Eugene Man, 22, Faces DUI Charges After Car Rolls Down Skinner Butte

Logan Keona-Rayne Whitney drove off from a traffic stop on the edge of Skinner Butte at 2:34 a.m. on March 4 with a Eugene Police Department officer still inside his Toyota Corolla, according to Central Lane 911 and the Eugene Police Department. The 22-year-old Eugene man now faces charges of DUII, reckless driving, and second-degree kidnapping after the early-morning encounter ended with his car rolling down the Skinner Butte embankment and his arrest at the scene.

The sequence began when an EPD officer spotted Whitney's Toyota Corolla and attempted a traffic stop near Morning View and Garfield, a residential stretch at the base of the butte. Whitney resisted arrest, started the car, and drove off with the officer still inside the vehicle. The officer deployed a taser to subdue Whitney, who attempted to grab it. Whitney continued pressing the gas pedal, forcing a third officer to pin the car with a patrol vehicle before the Corolla rolled down the embankment.

Whitney was eventually taken into custody at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation before being booked into Lane County Jail. Jail records confirmed he remained in custody as of March 4.

The second-degree kidnapping charge stems from Whitney allegedly driving off with the officer inside the vehicle, a detail that elevated what began as a traffic stop into a felony arrest. DUII and reckless driving charges were also filed, according to the Eugene Police Department.

At least three EPD officers were directly involved in the stop and takedown. No serious injuries were reported at the scene, though Whitney's hospital evaluation was required before booking could proceed.

Skinner Butte, a prominent landmark overlooking the Willamette River on Eugene's north side, includes a loop road and steep embankments that have been the site of prior vehicle incidents. The combination of the 2:34 a.m. hour, the elevated terrain, and the struggle inside the vehicle made this stop among the more dangerous EPD officers in the area have faced in recent months.