Eugene man arrested after found unconscious in running SUV, police say
Passerby found Joseph Enyeto Coleman unconscious in a running SUV at West 18th and Jefferson, and police say the inventory uncovered a gun, ammunition and a suspended license.
A passerby stopped a running SUV and Eugene police later arrested 19-year-old Joseph Enyeto Coleman after finding him unconscious at West 18th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Officers arrived around 1:01 a.m. on June 15, could not wake him, and removed him from the vehicle before placing him on the sidewalk, where he briefly regained consciousness. Police later concluded Coleman had been driving under the influence and booked him into Lane County Jail on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, driving while suspended and unlawful possession of a firearm under case 26-09030.
Investigators said an inventory of the SUV turned up a firearm and ammunition. Police also learned Coleman’s driver’s license was suspended because of a prior DUII arrest, a detail that widened the case beyond a single impaired-driving stop. A Lane County booking record shows Coleman was booked on June 15, 2026, the same day officers took him into custody.
The public-safety lesson is immediate for anyone who comes across a person slumped over in a running car. Lane County Public Health says overdose signs can include unresponsiveness, slowed or no breathing, gray skin, or gurgling or snoring sounds, and it says bystanders should call 911 immediately and give naloxone if it is available. Lane County also tells residents to call 911 for a medical or mental health emergency, and Eugene Springfield Fire says emergency medical services are part of its mission to protect life.
The West 18th corridor has already seen other serious police calls. Eugene police reported a fatal shooting on the 3100 block of West 18th Avenue in March 2025 and a crash at West 18th Avenue and Josh Street in February 2026, adding to the sense that the corridor keeps drawing officers back for late-night emergencies. Eugene Police Department dispatch-log entries are posted with a two-hour delay and refreshed every 10 minutes, giving residents a way to track calls after the fact.
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