Man who sent police on 2022 chase in stolen car, fired gunshots gets 2 years

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after being arrested in 2022 for his role in a violent police pursuit.

Vincent Nesbitt pleaded guilty on a negotiated plea deal to unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm for an incident involving a police chase after a vehicle theft.

In November 2022, a woman reported to Salem Police that two men had attempted to steal her car at gunpoint, according to a news release. The woman had pulled over to the side of the road to take a phone call when two men approached her car and attempted to open the doors. They were unsuccessful because the doors were locked, but one of the men pointed a gun at her. She was able to drive off and reported the incident to an officer she saw parked nearby.

The officer had received a report of a similar incident three days prior and relayed the information.

Salem Police were investigating the previous incident, in which a vehicle had been stolen at gunpoint, and had been monitoring traffic cameras for the stolen vehicle, the release said.

A traffic camera picked up the license of the stolen vehicle about half an hour before the attempted carjacking and the information was shared with Salem Police Corporal Joshua Buker, who was on duty. Four minutes after the attempted carjacking, the car was again spotted on the traffic camera.

Officers flooded the area to search for the assailants. An officer identified the vehicle, got behind it and turned on his lights and sirens. The vehicle did not pull over and instead sped up and the driver attempted to flee. The officer attempted to follow, but stopped when the pursuit posed a danger to pedestrians.

Buker located the vehicle a few minutes later and began to pursue. After a few turns, three people exited the car and fled. Buker chased after them and noticed one of the suspects reaching into a bag, so he drew his gun.

Two of them ran into a driveway of a home that appeared to be occupied. One was never located, the release said.

Buker then heard a shot and saw what he believed to be muzzle flash and he returned fire, firing three shots. Nesbitt and another person surrendered and were taken into custody. A firearm was located next to Nesbitt. No one was injured.

An investigation indicated that Nesbitt had fired the gun once.

A Marion County Grand Jury unanimously found later that month that Buker had been justified in his use of deadly force.

The other person apprehended was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, but the charge was dismissed in December 2022.

Nesbitt was initially charged with first degree attempted murder with a firearm, first degree attempted assault with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

He pleaded guilty on a negotiated plea deal to unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm after the investigation found it could not be proven whether he fired the gun directly at Buker or if there was an accidental discharge.

Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @isabeldfunk

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Man who sent police on 2022 chase in stolen car, fired gunshots gets 2 years