A driver who led Multnomah County deputies on a chase in his RV last week told authorities after he stopped that he wasn't coming out until he smoked some marijuana.

It took about 20 minutes for Shawn Wheeler to surrender. He promptly came out of the motorhome after a deputy shot out a camera at the back of the RV, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Wheeler, listed in court records as a transient from Wisconsin who has lived out of his RV in Portland for a year, remains held at the Multnomah County jail on accusations of second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault, failure to perform the duties of a driver, attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, reckless endangering and driving under the influence of intoxicants. He also has an active fugitive warrant.

A deputy pulled Wheeler, 38, over after 9:30 a.m. Thursday on Sauvie Island after being flagged down by another driver who saw the RV driving erratically, the affidavit said.

Wheeler told the deputy that he had no driver's license, registration or insurance. He was sweating, looked nervous, and his pupils "were like pinholes," according to the court papers.

He told the deputy he was from Oregon. When asked where in the state he was from, Wheeler again replied, "Oregon."

When the deputy asked Wheeler to turn off the ignition so he could hear him more clearly, the driver claimed "I just can't do it," the affidavit said. He then drove off.

Wheeler drove along U.S. 30, then turned on Northwest Cornelius Pass Road and continued for 3 miles until he stopped and threw the RV into reverse, the affidavit said. The deputy following him also had to back up to avoid the motorhome.

The motorhome rammed a car, a county deputy's patrol car, a Portland police car and several other cars on the scene, the county sheriff's office said. A civilian in one of the cars that was hit sustained apparent minor injuries.

One deputy estimated Wheeler drove backward for about 1,000 yards, the affidavit said. He stopped driving when two large trucks blocked his path.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey