Alert neighbor thwarts burglary.

Byline: Rebecca Nolan The Register-Guard

A watchful neighbor saw two men break into a south Eugene house late Thursday and called police, triggering a pursuit that ended when the suspects' stolen car hit a tree, Eugene police said.

The alleged driver of the car, Cicero Knox Ashby, 20, of Eugene, was one of two men who bailed out after the crash and fled from officers, police said. He remained at large on Friday, and police said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The incident began at 11:26 p.m. when the neighbor reported a burglary at a house on East 28th Avenue near Laurelwood Lane. The caller relayed the license plate number of a suspicious car, police said. Police learned that the car, a Honda Accord, had recently been reported stolen by its owner, a Lane County sheriff's deputy, said Jenna LaBounty, acting police spokeswoman.

Officers soon saw the car, which had six people inside. The driver led police on a chase from southeast to southwest Eugene at speeds of 30 to 50 mph, LaBounty said. Traffic was light, and the driver ignored most traffic lights and signs and drove recklessly, she said.

The driver turned into the Westside Christian Church at 1866 Chamber St. and hit a tree, police said. Officers arrested four people, but two others ran away, police said.

As officers poured into the neighborhood, one of the men entered at least one unlocked house in his attempt to escape from officers, police said. Officers eventually saw him on the roof of another house and arrested him after a short foot chase. He was identified as Sydney Lucien Maximin, 18, of Eugene.

Police said he was the front passenger in the car. He was arraigned Friday in Lane County Circuit Court on charges including felony burglary, car theft and interfering with police. He was being held in the Lane County Jail.

Police said Ashby was driving the car when it crashed. He was described as black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 145 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo of the words "West Side" on his upper right arm.

The other four passengers were cited and released on charges of car theft and criminal trespassing.

During the search, police shut down several streets near Chambers Street and West 18th Avenue, and activated the Community Emergency Notification System, a calling system that telephones neighbors and provides information about police activity in their area, warning them to stay inside and lock the doors.

Nevertheless, many neighbors emerged from their homes or drove through the area, possibly putting themselves in danger, and causing distractions for officers trying to find the suspects, LaBounty said.