PORTLAND -- The man who allegedly stole a firefighter's car from the station's parking lot and crashed it into the front porch of a house Sunday will face even more charges after a stolen gun was linked to him, police said.
Investigators believe 31-year-old Michael Spillers Jr. hid the stolen gun in a washing machine as he ran from firefighters. The washing machine was located in a garage at a home on SE Claybourne Street, police said.
Firefighters were chasing Spillers because he allegedly stole Rescue Captain Jesse Scroggins' vehicle from the parking lot of Station 11, said Sgt. Pete Simpson with the Portland Police Bureau.
Spillers then crashed the car into the porch of a house in the 9900 block of Southeast Duke Street shortly before 11 a.m., Simpson said. After that, he took off on foot.
Firefighters got out of the fire truck and chased Spillers on foot and caught him without incident, Simpson said.
Spillers was arrested and initially charged with crimes including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief.
Late Monday, police announced that Spillers was facing more charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, theft and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The gun recovered from the washing machine was reported stolen in Washington state. The victim had documented the serial number of the weapon, which helped investigators track and recover it, Simpson said.
