Dave Dahl Facing 14 New Charges for Ramming Sheriff's Patrol Cars

Dave's Killer Bread founder pleads not guilty on all counts.

GIVING TESTIMONY: Dave Dahl has regularly delivered speeches on his turnaround, including this one to the Oregon Department of Transportation in 2010.
By Brendan Welch and Aaron Mesh

Washington County prosecutors today charged Dave's Killer Bread founder Dave Dahl with 14 additional crimes—nine felonies and five misdemeanors—stemming from crashing his Cadillac Escalade into sheriff's cruisers in November.

The new charges include one count of first-degree attempted assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of resisting arrest. He was also charged with two counts of failing to perform the duties of a driver—more commonly known as hit-and-run.

Dahl pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges he now faces. He was booked into Washington County jail for a second time this afternoon, with his bail set at $520,000. His trial is set for April 4.

His attorney, Stephen Houze, could not immediately be reached. Washington County Deputy District Attorney Christopher Quinn declined comment.

The slew of new charges have been added to the original indictment in November, for one count of of second-degree attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.

About 10 pm on Nov. 14, Washington County sheriff's deputies responded to a disturbance call at 2455 SW Timberline Drive in Cedar Hills.

A woman called to report Dahl was acting erratically and having a "mental breakdown." Deputies arrived in two patrol cars as Dahl was leaving in his black Cadillac Escalade. He rammed one of the patrol cars head-on. Deputies pursued him in their cars for a half-mile down Timberline Drive. Cornered, Dahl twice rammed another patrol car before being pinned by a third.

The Washington County sheriff and district attorney's offices haven't released information about whether Dahl was intoxicated at the time of his arrest. But WW reported in January that several people close to him said he has become increasingly dependent on alcohol.

Dahl is the face of a hugely popular bread line, Dave's Killer Bread, which he helped found in 2005. The brand has been built around Dahl's comeback from drug dealing and addiction.

WW took a closer look at his redemption story last month.

WWeek 2015

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