K-9 Teams Arrest DUII Suspect After South Eugene Crash with Injury

Deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 28-year-old Eugene man after K-9 teams tracked him to a south Eugene backyard following a single-vehicle crash that destroyed a guardrail near S. Willamette Street and Fox Hollow Road, close to Spencer Butte. The sedan was unoccupied when deputies arrived just before midnight on Feb. 19, and authorities say the crash is listed as a “Crash With Injury.”

“They found a heavily damaged sedan, but no occupants were present,” according to initial agency accounts, and witnesses reported seeing two people walking away from the scene. Deputies established a perimeter with assistance from the Eugene Police Department and Oregon State Police while K-9 teams searched the area.

Eugene Springfield Fire treated one passenger at the scene for minor injuries consistent with being in a crash, officials reported. Deputies located two people north of K-9 Tito on S. Willamette Street; one person cooperated and was identified as the passenger, while the other fled on foot, jumped a resident’s fence, and ran.

“A sergeant first deployed K9 Tito to track north toward Spencer Butte, and a handler with K9 Ripp later joined the search as Eugene Police and Oregon State Troopers set a perimeter around the area,” the sheriff’s office said. Ripp tracked over several fences and indicated a backyard where deputies located the suspect hiding and detained him.

“Ripp tracked over several fences and showed interest in a backyard where they found and detained the suspect, who was later lodged at the Lane County Jail,” the sheriff’s release states. The arrested man was identified in local reports as Kyle Malone Edwin Mcilvain, also reported in some outlets as Edwin McIlvain; jail records show Mcilvain is in custody as of Feb. 20. The Lane County Jail booking is subject to review by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.

Local reporting that cited KATU and Hoodline lists the arrest as involving multiple counts; “the charges include DUII, assault in the third degree, reckless driving, reckless endangering, criminal mischief in the second degree, failure to perform duties of a driver - property damage, and two counts of second-degree trespass.” The Lane County District Attorney’s Office will review the case and decide whether to file formal charges, and booking remains subject to that review.

The sheriff’s office referenced its case number 26-0875 for the incident and thanked Eugene Police, Oregon State Police, Eugene Springfield Fire, and area residents for assistance. “Authorities say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone with video or information about the crash to contact the sheriff’s office.” One social media post named a different K-9, Havik, but the sheriff’s release and multiple news accounts attribute the tracking to Tito and Ripp.

Investigators continue to seek witness video and information about the crash and the moments before it; the damaged guardrail at S. Willamette and Fox Hollow remains part of the active collision investigation as law enforcement and the Lane County District Attorney’s Office determine next steps.