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Portland police chased and stopped a stolen Donut Land van in Southeast Portland early Tuesday.

(The Oregonian)

Hands up! Drop the donut!

Well, something like that happened early Tuesday when Portland police were called about a Donut Land van that was stolen in downtown Portland about 2 a.m.

The driver was making a pastry delivery and parked the van outside the Portland Building in the 1100 block of Southwest Fifth Avenue. The driver left the keys inside and the van running, police said.

Peter Leon Johansen, 34

As a Central Precinct officer was taking the report and alerted dispatch about the make and model of the stolen vehicle - a 2004 Chevy Astro van, Officer Casey McLeod spotted it heading east on Southeast Powell Boulevard, near 21st Avenue.

McLeod pulled up behind the van and activated his overhead lights, but the stolen donut van kept going.

McLeod chased it until the van pulled over at Southeast 59th Avenue and Mall Street.

Once stopped, the officer ordered the driver to put both his hands out the window.

As the driver did, a donut dropped to the ground, police said.

Police arrested Peter Leon Johansen, 34, on allegations of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft and attempt to elude police. Johansen is homeless, according to court records.

Police found donuts "all over the inside of the van,'' but otherwise found no other damage, Sgt. Pete Simpson said.

The victim was taken to the scene to retrieve his van, which belonged to Donut Land, located on Southwest Boones Ferry Road in Tualatin.

The Donut Land employee had been half way through his morning rounds, stopping at downtown cafes and coffee shops to deliver the pastries when the theft occurred. He left his van running when he darted inside The Portland Building.

"I think the driver figured he wouldn't be gone long, but it was a mistake,'' said George Wardini, manager of the Tualatin Donut Land shop. Wardini said police located the stolen van about an hour later.

"They found it pretty quickly,'' Wardini said.

--Maxine Bernstein