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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 2016)
Page 12A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Saturday, August 27, 2016 JAIL: Population grew from 140 inmates HUSTON: Detectives a day before Rowan to 220 a day in July are looking into the Continued from 1A Pendleton police records show the jail is letting out some inmates in less than 36 hours, some even the same day as their arrest. Rowan defended his actions Friday, noting that the jail is “currently housing more inmates than ever before.” He said the average daily population is 212, and his policy has “undeniably beneited the criminal justice system and the community.” The East Oregonian has published Rowan’s lengthy response online in its entirety. The matrix, as cops called it, was a system the jail used to irst release the least dangerous offenders when the population hit a certain number, sometimes setting people free right after police brought them in. The system irked cops for years and Rowan said he understood the annoyance, having experienced it himself. He announced in March 2013 the end of the matrix and the start of 36-hour holds. Rowan said Friday that he never ended the matrix completely, just that he “eliminated the previous jail cap of 135 inmates.” The sheriff’s ofice on Nov. 18, 2015, published its irst progress report. The 26-page digital document included a section that chron- icled events in the agency under Rowan’s leadership. An entry for April 2013 states: “Policy Changes in Jail to keep more offenders behind bars. Matrix releases are reduced and jail population is increased. Every effort is made to hold new inmates for 36 hours, as allowed by law, while charges are pending.” The report’s section on the jail gives this: “In April 2013 a new policy was implemented aimed at keeping more “The goal is to get as few (matrix releases) as possible and hold as many people as we can safely.” — Sheriff’s Capt. Stewart Harp, jail commander offenders behind bars. The ‘catch-and-release’ matrix was eliminated and the jail population was increased. New inmates are now held for at least 36 hours, as allowed by law, while charges are pending.” Sheriff’s Capt. Stewart Harp is the jail commander. He said the jail could not entirely end the “forced release” matrix and in 2015 the jail had to set free 352 people at different times to control the population. But that was just a frac- tion of the inmates it used to let go early. Harp said the jail had about 2,000 such releases in 2012. And information from the corrections page on the county’s website shows the jail freed an average of 1,757 people a year due to over- crowding from 2005 through 2010. The 36-hour policy and increases in stafing caused the jail’s population to grow, from around 140 inmates a day before Rowan was sheriff to 220 a day in July. Harp said that was like adding another jail in Eastern Oregon. The jail lost some positions from 2008-2010, but county commissioners in recent years added two “civilian” control room operators and a sergeant, who this year bumped up to lieutenant. Harp said those positions allow corrections deputies to work the jail loor and control a larger number of inmates. The jail is “never going to get rid” of all matrix releases, Harp said, “but the goal is to get as few as possible and hold as many people as we can safely.” This year the jail is on track for 4,600 intakes, he said, and 350-500 matrix releases “is a pretty low percentage.” Yet during the past six months, the matrix was the No. 1 reason the jail released inmates that are under the jurisdiction of the Pendleton Municipal Court. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts provided copies of jail logs from March 19 to Aug. 20 that show the jail released 83 of 257 inmates for “matrix overcrowding.” That was almost double the number of the city court inmates a judge out or who served their lawful time. Some entries show the jail kicked out offenders the same day as their arrest. Each morning, Roberts explained in an email, either the code enforcement oficer or another oficer calls to conirm if a defendant is in jail. The police department provides the information to the city court so the judge knows if someone is awaiting arraignment. “Obviously, the attached documents refute the sheriff’s assertion that he is holding offenders more accountable while cutting back on failure to appear numbers,” Roberts stated. The jail logs also show 29 inmates got out after hitting the 36-hour mark. Together with the matrix releases, 43.6 percent of Pendleton Municipal Court inmates in the period did not see a judge before leaving the jail. Rowan said that is because the Pendleton Municipal Court only oper- ates three days a week, from Tuesday through Thursday. In Hermiston the court operates in-custody hearings Monday-Friday, which allows most inmates in their system to be arraigned within 36 hours, no matter when they are arrested. But many who will appear in Pendleton Municipal Court have no opportunity to see a judge within 36 hours. “We identify these low level individuals, and if the jail population becomes too high, we force release them knowing that it isn’t possible for them to see a judge because there won’t be court on Friday or Monday,” Rowan said. Lehnert said he would not make a campaign promise to keep a certain number of offenders behind bars if he wins the race. “My intent would be to evaluate the staff to inmate ratio and ensure inmate and staff safety was the top priority,” he said. Lehnert also said he would rely on people with knowledge about what a reasonable inmate popula- tion is for the county jail, including Harp and other staff. They are doing the work each day, he said, and would have valuable input. And an audit into what capacity the jail could operate with current stafing levels might be in order, he said. Rowan said he has only received one complaint on his jail policy in the four years since he instituted it, and it comes now from a political rival in the middle of campaign season. “It does make me wonder though,” said Rowan. “Were they truly looking for a solu- tion, or just playing politics?” WOOL: ‘Europe, Asia wold eat up Pendleton if they knew it was here’ Continued from 1A brand name Pendleton carries a strong association with the Eastern Oregon town. “We’re a heritage brand, but our roots are in Eastern Oregon,” Christnacht said. Pendleton, the city, and Travel Oregon have made a concerted effort to increase experiential tourism by marketing to international countries. At a Pendleton Convention Center commis- sion meeting Aug. 18, convention center manager Steve Chrisman said experi- ential tourism is on the rise, and Pendleton is packed full of those experiences, including the Woolen Mills, Round-Up and hand-crafted leather stores. “Europe, Asia would eat up Pendleton if they knew it was here,” he said. “I think sometimes because we have such an amazing Round-Up, we get over conident that the world knows we’re here.” Travel Pendleton’s Pat Beard said he’s heard from Travel Oregon and other industry leaders that Japa- nese tourists and consumers seek unique, handmade and quality goods, such as Pend- leton wool. Pendleton isn’t likely to see an immediate impact from the company’s expansion into Japan, but the cultural crossover is a natural it between the two places, he said. “I don’t know that suddenly 747s will be landing at the airport and we’re going to have 10 tour buses a day,” Beard said. “But ... Pendleton, Oregon is fortunate that in a community of 16,500 there are entities like Pendleton wool, the Pendleton Round-Up, Pend- leton Whisky. So it gives us a much larger footprint than we really are.” Pendleton’s expansion into Japanese department stores won’t immediately affect manufacturing at the local 1307 S.E. Court Pl. Woolen Mill, according to Christnacht. Pendleton Woolen Mill manager John Boston said because the local mill only manufactures the fabric that goes into making products, they often don’t know where those fabrics ultimately end up. Production for the 2017 line is still months away. However, Christnacht said plenty of fabric manufactured at the Pendleton and Wash- ougal mills has found its way to Japan, not only from past Japan-speciic clothing lines, but also projects including a collaborative effort with NikeiD’s Pendleton shoe collection. Pendleton also started a European expansion plan WHITNEY & ASSOCIATES 37 SE Dorion Ave • 541-276-0021 www.coldwellbankerwhitney.com • cb@coldwellbankerwhitney.com Each ofice is independently owned and operated. W NE W NE W NE COV E ive years ago that, according to Christnacht, the company made progress on but recent economic issues within the European Union have some- what stagnated initiative. Pendleton has also tapped into the Canadian market with outdoor product lines and wool blankets. But Japan remains Pend- leton’s most lucrative inter- national market. Christnacht said while New York and Paris were once considered the fashion capitals of the world, Tokyo has established itself as a leader, too. Pendleton’s brand will soon reap the beneits of an underutilized Japanese market, while the Eastern Oregon town continues to expand its international tourism reach. ——— Contact Will Denner at wdenner@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0809 background of the gun Continued from 1A Huston from volunteering as a wrestling coach for Hermiston High School. Huston submitted the volunteer application on Nov. 17, 2014, according to a copy of the document from the Hermiston School District. Huston gave his consent for a criminal history check and marked the box denoting he had a conviction of a crime involving violence or the threat of violence. Hermiston School District, like others in Oregon, pay Criminal Information Services, Inc., to conduct background checks. The company claims to scour information from more than 1,100 police agencies, courts and other sources. Tricia Mooney, assistant superintendent of human resources for the district, said she has seen CRIS ind everything from tickets for driving without a seat belt to dismissed court charges. Huston’s application went through that same process, she said, and the report noted the conviction. Huston’s application also contains a hand- written explanation of the arrest, though without a signature or initials. It states that Huston worked for Union Paciic and during a trafic stop a Stan- ield police oficer told him having the gun was OK. But Huston did not know the railroad prohibited guns on its property. “He used to be in the military so was accus- tomed to always carrying a irearm,” read the statement on his volunteer application. When conducting a background check, Mooney said the district irst looks for any crimes involving a minor, a red lag that excludes an applicant. Other crimes, though, are not so black- and-white. “The process we use involved a matrix, if you will,” she said. Someone with a drunk driving conviction from years ago, for example, could be OK as a volunteer now. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said detectives are looking into the background of the gun Huston used and asked the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for a trace of its history. “We have limited access to gun receipts, gun sales and things along those lines,” he said. He said he did not know when the feds might provide information. ——— Contact Phil Wright at pwright@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0833. UTILITIES: Plan calls for $3.5M in water projects on the east side of the airport Continued from 1A hoped that increased accessibility would bring manufacturers and other industrial companies to the airport. The 40-acre plot the city bought in 2011 for future industrial develop- ment has mostly sat vacant, with little access to utilities until recently. Spurred by a Vancouver, Washington company interested in building a data center in the area, the city built a $300,000 sewer line extension to Stage Gulch Road, saving money by having city workers install the line themselves instead of hiring a contractor. But the city’s plan to connect the intersection to the rest of its utility system is much more ambitious than that. The city’s water master plan has Pendleton building an interim westward line extension, a pond and a pump station within the next ive years at an esti- mated cost of $2.8 million. Public Works Director Bob Patterson said the water would mostly be needed for ire suppression purposes, enough to supply a sustained rate of 2,000 gallons per minute for four hours. The master plan also calls for $3.5 million in water projects on the east side of the airport, to supply water to a planned indus- trial park for unmanned aerial system companies. And the plan pegs the cost of gravity mains, lift stations and force mains at $7.3 million in the next ive years, although Patterson said that igure would be lowered with the westward sewer line extension already completed. To pay for the substantial cost of expanding its utility system at the airport and cover maintenance costs across Pendleton, the city wants to leverage recent water and sewer rate hikes to pay for a loan. Patterson said he has already sent in an applica- tion for a sewer loan and is working on the application for a water loan that’s due in September. ——— Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian. com or 541-966-0836. Please Welcome JD Ward, DO $174,900 Marsha Morgan Broker GREAT BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! 3 bed, 2 bath, with large family room plus bonus room, gas stove in living room. Large dining space area within kitchen, utility room. F/A heat and cool. Double garage, insulated storage room. 2 decks with private backyard, RV parking. Marsha Morgan 541- 377-5152cell. #16652083 $126,000 Dawn Blalack Broker AMAZING VIEWS are only the start! Spacious living room, nice dining room, a bonus room, and a utility room that could be used for crafts. Great low and space for everything make this 2 bed, 2 bath home a delight. The slate siding means no bug damage or heat warping. Patio for entertaining in the yard. Space for a garden. This place has it all. Dawn Blalack 541-310- 9563cell. #16081286 $65,000 Carolyn Rovier Broker COVE/LOOKING for a great location to build your new dream home? This 2.51 acre lot has lots of potential with beautiful views of the mountains and the valley below. Enjoy the amenities of the beautiful town of Cove. Carolyn Rovier 541- 786-0822cell. #16585741 New Prices $399,000 - REDUCED 2.2 Acre - 4700 Sq. Ft+ Ranch home. This one of a kind 100-year-old ranch has “never been on the market”. Located on Spring Hollow Road, this home offers picture-perfect, peaceful views of the Blue Mtn’s and is equally located between Pendleton and Walla Walla. The original ranch home is 4 bedrooms, 3 bath home with a full 1296 sf(m/l) uninished basement. Quality craftsmanship is evident throughout and symbolizes the quality of the house. Please call Kevin Hale @ 541-969-8243 to see if this is your once in a lifetime opportunity. #16122252 $350,000 - REDUCED/ATHENA ONE OF A KIND PROPERTY! Completely private, great view of the Blues and the Columbia River. 3.82 acres, 3300 sq ft home, 5 bed 3 bath, daylight basement. Six miles north of Athena. New metal roof and new hardy plank siding. Jerry Baker 541-969-6378 for more information. #16645958 $170,000 - REDUCED/GRECIAN HEIGHTS ENJOY the oversized living room, vaulted ceilings, and well thought out loor plan. Easy to maintain with underground sprinklers and gentle sloping lot. Behind the house is a community common area. Dawn Blalack 541-310-9563cell. #16164053 $165,000 - PRICE REDUCED 3 BEDROOM, 1.5 BATHS w/an ofice or den. Completely remodeled in 2006. Upgraded electrical and heating, reinished hardwood loors. Approximately 2107 sf(m/l), w/a full basement. Large yard and a covered patio. Call Kevin Hale 541-969-8243cell for more information. #16360289 $126,000 - REDUCED/ATHENA ATHENA HOME! 1440 sf(m/l), 1 level home with 3 bedrooms 2 baths. User friendly kitchen. Forced air heating and cooling. Fenced backyard, quiet neighborhood. Call Jerry Baker 541-969-6378cell for more information. #16364082 $115,500 - REDUCED Clean and updated 2 bed 1 bath home. 934 sqft on the main level. User friendly kitchen and laundry. Half basement for storage and furnace. Attic for storage or can convert to bedrooms. Close to downtown and schools. Jerry Baker 541-969-6378cell. #16017806 $79,500 - REDUCED/MEACHAM COZY CABIN AT MEACHAM LAKE! 1200 sf(m/l), 4 bedroom, 1 bath on Oak Lane is a great get-away spot. Owner pays for leased ground. Jerry Baker 541-969-6378cell for more information and to schedule a showing. #16659218 $73,500 - REDUCED/PILOT ROCK 2 BEDROOM WITH LOTS OF STORAGE. Hardwood loors, range and refrigerator included, storage and utility in cellar area. New roof, gas HVAC. Double carport. Large lot with lots of shade trees. Next to grade school. Call Vicki Dick 541-969-9441cell to see this one. #16332924 OB/ GYN Now Scheduling Appointments 541-966-0535 Dr. Ward is originally from Boise, Idaho and graduated from Boise State. He attended medical school at Western University of Health Science in Pomona, California and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Muskegon, Michigan. He considers himself to have the best job in the world and fi nds joy in all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology and taking care of women of all backgrounds, ages, and sizes. He and his family, wife Robin, and their three children, are active in their church and look forward to being involved in the community. Family Clinic 3001 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, Oregon www.sahpendleton.org
