Loony John Franklin Kolb Toon is heading to prison for the next 20 years after prosecutors said he turned a routine traffic stop in Oregon into a dangerous overnight chase filled with gunfire, crashing vehicles, and terrified officers trying to stop him.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty Thursday in Clackamas County to several felony charges tied to the June 20, 2025 pursuit that stretched from Milwaukie into Portland. Court records show Toon admitted to four counts of first-degree attempted assault with a firearm, unlawful use of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and second-degree escape.
Authorities said the chaos started just before 3 a.m. when Milwaukie police pulled over a vehicle carrying Toon and a female passenger. Officers quickly learned Toon had an active felony warrant. As backup officers arrived, police placed spike strips beneath the rear tires in an attempt to stop him from taking off.
Investigators said Toon had other plans. According to prosecutors, he reversed directly into a police vehicle, rolled over the spike strips, and sped away down Highway 224. Officers chased after him as the situation escalated fast.
During the pursuit, prosecutors said Toon leaned out of the vehicle and fired a pistol toward pursuing officers. One nearby vehicle was also reportedly struck by gunfire during the chase, adding even more danger to an already tense situation on the road.
The pursuit finally came to an end near Southeast Tacoma Street and 26th Place in Portland after Toon crashed close to railroad tracks. Police said he jumped out and ran into the Eastmoreland Golf Course area. Officers from several agencies searched through the dark for hours, but Toon managed to disappear before authorities could catch him.
Three days later, on June 23, 2025, authorities tracked Toon down and arrested him in Sandy, Oregon. Prosecutors later described the entire incident as reckless and terrifying. Clackamas County Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Wareham Portlock said Toon showed “callous disregard” for everyone around him and placed numerous officers and civilians in danger.
Officials also revealed Toon was already on probation in Columbia County at the time for first-degree attempted kidnapping. Prosecutors said his criminal history stretches across decades and includes 25 prior convictions, with 16 of them classified as felonies.
As part of a larger plea agreement, Toon will also plead guilty to separate criminal cases pending in Washington, Benton, Yamhill, and Columbia counties. Those sentences will all run at the same time as his 20-year prison term in Clackamas County.
The court additionally ordered Toon to pay restitution to the City of Milwaukie for damage caused to a police vehicle, along with compensation to the owner of another vehicle hit during the shooting-filled chase. For many in the area, the case closed the door on a violent episode that could have ended far worse for everyone caught in Toon’s path.
