04/11/12 Longview, OR – A Man Calling Himself “Messiah” Ran At An Oregon State Trooper Yelling He Was Going To Steal His Patrol Car – Fight – Trooper Won

April 11, 2012

kgw.com

A man calling himself “the messiah” yelled at an Oregon State trooper, ran at him and tried to steal his patrol car Monday in Rooster Rock State Park, police said.

The trooper said the man ran toward him from about 50 yards away, yelling him to get out because he was going to take the patrol car.

But he did not manage to take control of the car.

“The the man was yelling he was ‘The Messiah” …A brief struggle ensued between the man and the trooper before he was restrained and handcuffed,” said Lt. Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police.

The suspect, identified as James Roberson, 60, of Longview, was arrested and no one was injured.

Hastings said Roberson was also wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Umatilla County for failing to appear in court for assaulting a public safety officer. He was lodged in the Multnomah County Jail on that warrant. Additional local charges may be pending, Hastings said.