Hood River Officer injured when man driving Land Rover flees after traffic stop

By Tom Peterson

Hood River, Ore., March 17, 2025 — A 26-year-old Washington man is accused of injuring a Hood River Police officer when he sped away from being stopped, slamming the officers elbow and fingers in the driver’s door as the officer attempted to remove him from the vehicle on Sunday evening, March 16.

Hood River Police Sgt. Emelike Delancy. He was the 2021 DUII Enforcement Officer of the year in Oregon.

Hood River Police Sgt. Emelike Delancy had pulled the vehicle over at milepost 61 on Interstate at 8:48 p.m. when the altercation occurred. The driver had warrants for his arrest and Delancy was attempting to get him out of the vehicle to take him into custody. 

The driver's door was open at that point.

Instead of surrendering, the driver hit the gas pedal, slamming the driver door and hitting Delancy. The dirver then fled westbound on I-84 from Hood River, prompting a pursuit involving the Oregon State Police.

A state trooper successfully deployed spike strips at milepost 28, disabling the vehicle. The driver stopped and was taken into custody without further incident.

Garrett Michael Comer, 26, of Everett, Washington

Authorities identified the driver as Garrett Michael Comer, 26, of Everett, Washington. The passenger was identified as Crystal Monique Gomez, 29, of Spanaway, Washington.

In 2015, Comer pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery for a heist at a south Everett marijuana business, according to the Everett Herald. Net. He was a juvenile at the time but was convicted as an adult and sentenced to 3 1/2 years.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

Hood River Police Lt. Don Cheli said Sgt. Delancy was checked out at the emergency room in Hood River and was cleared to return to duty.

Cheli thanked OSP, and the Hood River Sheriff’s Department and all other assisting agencies in the case.

The Driver, Comer, was arrested and taken to NORCOR Jail in The Dalles. 

Comer remained in jail this afternoon on second-degree assault, assault of a public safety officer, attempt to elude, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, and several other allegations. 

His bail was set at $10,000. 

“This happens once in a while,” Cheli said of injuries caused by people fleeing a traffic stop. “While it is rare, for sure.”