Parolee in pursuit admits culpability in passenger's death

An Oregon parolee whose passenger was killed in a pursuit through the Gardnerville Ranchos faces up to 20 years in prison after he admitted Monday to one count of attempting to elude causing death.

Blake Edward Thacker, 31, appeared with attorney Paul Yohey.

In addition to the prison term, Thacker could be fined up $50,000.

Thacker has been in custody since Nov. 18, 2021, when he was released from a medical care as a result of the collision.

While his bail in the Douglas case is $250,000, he’s also being held on a fugitive warrant out of Oregon after he absconded from parole there.

Court documents revealed authorities had been looking for Thacker for two weeks on Nov. 16, 2021, when he drove up behind a deputy who was at Blue Rock and Lyle. When Thacker realized he’d been spotted, he made a U-turn on the spot and then turned north on Robin, before turning west on Kimmerling.

The deputy told investigators that he lost track of Thacker on the Kimmerling Way curve before spotting him on the sidewalk along Robin.

A witness said he heard the commotion and looked out in time to see Thacker’s Jeep roll completely and land on its wheels.

The deputy got out of his patrol vehicle and pulled his weapon, but Thacker drove off again and attempted to turn south on Tillman from Patricia, where he slammed into another vehicle, causing the Jeep to roll and ejecting Schulze.