A 46-year-old man arrested after a Nov. 14 Eugene police pursuit in heavy traffic is suspected of using illicit substances earlier that day, according to a search warrant filed in Lane County Circuit Court.

A search warrant for blood samples from the driver includes a statement about items found in the pockets of the driver, James Allen Thomson.

“A hypodermic syringe and a green plastic straw, which had burn marks on it, were located in [Thomson’s] pockets. Based on my experience as a police officer, the hypodermic syringe and burnt straw were indicative items of illicit substance use,” states an affidavit from Eugene police officer Justin Peckels.

The affidavit states that a passenger with Thomson “told me he believed [Thomson] had been smoking fentanyl” about two hours before being taken into custody. While blood was taken from Thomson on Nov. 14, the documents filed in court do not state any testing results.

The pursuit of a Ford F-150 driven by Thomson began at about 3:05 p.m. near Valley River Center and took place amid heavy game-day traffic a few hours before kickoff of a University of Oregon football game at Autzen Stadium, Eugene police have said. 

The affidavit describes the pursuit as lasting “for several miles,” and states that “several attempts at forcible stops were attempted.”

Police vehicles forcibly pinned the Ford F-150 near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Garden Way, according to a previous statement from Eugene police. During the pursuit, three police vehicles were damaged and an officer sustained injuries, Eugene police said.

Thomson on Nov. 17 pleaded not guilty to attempting to elude a police officer, recklessly endangering, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving.