Wednesday, December 13, 2017
BRIEFLY
Deputy arrests Hermiston man
with drugs ready for sale
HERMISTON — Eric D. Sommerville, 21, of
Hermiston, faces a slew of drug
dealing charges after a sheriff’s
deputy caught him Monday.
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Office reported deputy Nathan
Rankin arrested Eric D. Sommerville,
21, of Hermiston on a warrant for
failure to appear on a previous
drug case. During the arrest at the
Hermiston Burger King, 1730 N.
First St., Rankin found Sommerville Sommerville
had packages of the following drugs
for sale:
• almost half an ounce of dried marijuana;
• 16 grams of black tar heroin;
• 1 gram of cocaine;
• 2 grams of brown powder heroin;
• 6 grams of methamphetamine;
• and an oxycodone 30 mg pill.
The sheriff’s office also reported Sommerville had “a
large set of brass knuckles in his back pocket.”
The Hermiston Police Department assisted Rankin,
who booked Sommerville into the Umatilla County Jail,
Pendleton, on the warrant and for carrying a concealed
weapon (the brass knuckles) and for delivery of cocaine,
meth, oxycodone, marijuana and the types of heroin.
His total bail comes to $247,500.
Second Milton-Freewater
drive-by shooter goes to prison
PENDLETON — The second of two men pleaded
guilty Monday for his role in a
Milton-Freewater drive-by shooting.
Clemente Garcia Cerda, 21, of
Walla Walla, faced one count of
attempted murder and multiple
charges of unlawful use of a weapon
and recklessly endangering others.
He took a deal and pleaded guilty
Monday in Umatilla County Circuit
Court, Hermiston, to two counts of
unlawful use of a weapon and one
Cerda
count of felon in possession of a
firearm.
Judge Eva Temple sentenced him to five years, 10
months in state prison per the plea agreement Cerda made
with the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office. He
receives credit of about five months for time spent in the
Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton.
Cerda and Francisco Javier Palacios Garcia, 24, of
Milton-Freewater, were in a car around midnight May
10 when they opened fire outside the Milton-Freewater
home of Eric Rodriguez. He was only a few feet from the
vehicle but no bullet struck him nor anyone else.
Milton-Freewater Police Chief Doug Boedigheimer
reported it was a gang-related drive-by shooting.
Palacios Garcia took a deal in July and pleaded guilty
to two counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and
recklessly endangering another person. He is serving
a five-year sentence in Eastern Oregon Correctional
Institution, Pendleton.
Oregon State Police reports
wrong-way driver way drunk
PENDLETON — Oregon State Police reported a
wrong-way driver on Interstate 84 near Pendleton had a
blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
Trooper Darin Wong received multiple calls Tuesday
around 12:20 a.m. of a driver heading east in the
westbound lanes of I-84. The trooper spotted the black
Ford F150 pickup and stopped it near milepost 197, about
10 miles west of Pendleton.
The trooper had the driver, Wade Frederick Jordan, 28,
of Raymond, Washington, perform a sobriety test before
taking him to the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, for
driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless
driving. At the jail, according to state police, Jordan took
a breath test that revealed his blood-alcohol content was
.26 percent. The legal limit is .08.
State police put three dogs from Jordan’s pickup into
the Pendleton city dog pound and took the gun and extra
ammunition he was carrying in the small of his back. The
Bersa .380-caliber pistol, two magazines and 14 rounds
are in safe keeping with state police.
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office
starts DUII blitz
PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Office is again teaming up with agencies around the state
to catch impaired and distracted drivers.
The sheriff’s office in a written statement reported
extra patrols hit the road Wednesday through Jan. 1 to
look for intoxicated and distracted drivers. Funds for
the extra patrols come from an Oregon Department of
Transportation grant to crack down on driving under the
influence of intoxicants.
On average, according to the sheriff’s office, 33 people
die in traffic collisions every December in Oregon.
“It is UCSO’s goal to prevent serious injury or fatal
crashes on our county’s roadways,” the agency stated.
“Please, buckle up, drive for the conditions, and never
drive impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Be responsible
and arrange for a sober driver.”
The sheriff’s office also encouraged anyone who sees
what looks like unsafe operation of a vehicle to call 911
with the vehicle’s description, direction of travel and
license plate number if possible.
“You may save a life,” the sheriff’s office stated.
———
Briefs are compiled from staff and wire reports,
and press releases. Email press releases to news@
eastoregonian.com
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Page 3A
Tasered trooper gets sweet apology
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Oregon State Police trooper Mitchell
Goldman was literally shocked during a
Hermiston domestic violence call. The
cake he got from the Umatilla County
Sheriff’s Office seemed to make up for
the trouble.
State police on Monday posted a
photo of Goldman with the cake he
received for taking a shot from the Taser
of sheriff’s Sgt. Josh Roberts. Blue icing
on the cake read: “Sorry you got tased.”
Goldman the evening of Oct.
11 responded to the call at 2295 N.
Townsend Road, Hermiston and
contacted Michael Jacob Morris, 21.
State police on Facebook reported
Morris “became belligerent” when the
trooper tried to pat him down and a
“scuffle ensued.”
Roberts said he pulled up and saw
Goldman and Morris in a struggle and
wanted to subdue the suspect. He said he
fired his Taser stun gun, and one prong
struck Morris flush, but the other skipped
off and hung up in the trooper’s vest.
Both men felt the gun’s jolt of electricity.
“When they let go, the Taser stopped,”
Roberts said, “and the guy gave up and
that was it.”
Roberts said it was not his intent to
zap Goldman, but the Taser was the
safer choice under the circumstances.
The weapon can overwhelm a person’s
system with electricity while not leaving
lasting effects.
State police also reported Goldman
shared the photo on Facebook with the
line “Getting tased is a cake walk.”
Circuit Court records show Morris
faces misdemeanor charges of attempted
Photo courtesy Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police trooper Mitchell Goldman was accidentally tasered
by a Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office deputy back in October. The deputy
apologized with a cake.
assault, assault, harassment and inter-
fering with police from the Oct. 11
fracas and misdemeanors of assault and
interfering with police from July 29. His
cases go to trial Dec. 19 and 20, and for
now he remains in the Umatilla County
Jail, Pendleton.
Goldman was off duty Tuesday.
Roberts said he never got a piece of the
cake, which a co-worker baked for the
trooper.
Morris didn’t get any cake, either.
HERMISTON
Hermiston ‘stars’ to waltz into new year
Tickets on sale for
Jan. 13 performance
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Returning for a sixth
season, Dancing with the
Hermiston Stars features
six community members
who will take the stage with
professional dancers from
the Utah Ballroom Dance
Company.
Presented by Desert Arts
Council, money raised will
help support the organiza-
tion’s mission of growing the
arts. The winner will be deter-
mined by a combination of
the judge’s scores, audience
votes and money raised.
Scoring a perfect 30 out of
30 from the judges during the
2015 event, Erica Sandoval
is coming back for another
chance to take home the
coveted mirror ball trophy.
An officer with the Hermiston
Police Department, Sandoval
performed a memorable
mambo to a song from the
movie “Dirty Dancing.”
Edged out by audience
voting and money donated
on behalf of other dancers,
Sandoval is already poli-
ticking on Facebook. She’s
looking to get extra votes
through donations for the
2018 event.
“I’ve got another chance
at this,” she said. “I’ve got the
dancing down but I’m gonna
need your help with the rest.”
Rather than dancing for
individual charities like past
shows, each of the dancers
will raise money for Desert
Arts Council, said Mary
Corp, event co-chair. Others
hoping to claim the trophy
and bragging rights include
Sandoval
Seibel
Mooney
Juarez
Burns
Bendixsen
Cameron Bendixsen, Josh
Burns, Erik Juarez, Tricia
Mooney and Ashley Seibel.
Bendixsen, who moved
to Hermiston as a first grader
in 1987, is excited to take the
stage in support of the arts.
A 1999 Hermiston graduate,
Bendixsen returned in 2013
to join his father’s law firm.
The arts, he said, contribute
to the creativity, diversity and
unity of growing communi-
ties.
“Our youth can flourish as
they showcase their talents,”
Bendixsen said.
Moving to Hermiston six
years ago, Burns is general
manager at the Walmart
Distribution Center. He
enjoys the small-town feel
of Hermiston. In addition,
he said the community
offers many opportunities,
including those offered
through Desert Arts.
“I believe we’re better
human beings when we’ve
opened ourselves up to learn
about others,” he said. “Art
STUDENT
OF THE
WEEK
Margaret Campbell
Junior - Condon High School
Margaret is a junior at CHS, and the daughter of Tim and Elizabeth
Campbell. She is an active student leader, currently serving as co-class
president. In addition to being a leader she has served on the Honor
Society, assisting in gathering food for the food pantry and volunteering
at the Red Cross Blood drive. She has earned Honor Roll recognition her
four previous semesters of high school, and has a 4.0 accumulative GPA.
Margaret has also been involved with the Early College Program offered
to CHS student by Columbia Gorge Community College, taking courses
to earn dual credit. She has participated in volleyball and tennis at CHS.
Outside of school Margaret is heavily involved with 4-H and serves as a
County Ambassador. She is also a member of the International Club, and
is raising funds for the Rome to Athens trip in March of 2019. She has
accomplished much in and out of the classroom, serves her school and
community well. She is an outstanding student, young adult, and citizen,
and a positive role model for younger students and peers alike. She is
deserving of this honor and recognition of Student of the Week!
Proudly Sponsored By:
Proudly Sponsored By:
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East Oregonian
101 Kinkade Rd,
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allows us to do that in an
enjoyable way, whatever the
medium.”
A Hermiston native,
Juarez is an analyst at Good
Shepherd Medical Center
and serves as a commissioner
for American Youth Soccer.
“I feel blessed to be able to
be in a position where I can
help the youth in Hermiston,”
he said.
In addition, Juarez is
looking forward to raising
money to benefit Desert Arts
programs. He’s especially
supportive of showcasing
local artists to assist in
furthering their careers.
Currently the Hermiston
School District interim
superintendent,
Mooney
started her career in educa-
tion as a teacher in Hermiston
in 1995. After working in the
Pendleton School District
from 2008-16, she returned
“home” to a thriving commu-
nity that possesses a “can
do” attitude that supports
its businesses, schools and
citizens. Mooney especially
appreciates the dedication
of the Desert Arts Council
in providing quality arts and
entertainment opportunities.
“I want to give back in
support of all that is given for
our community,” she said.
A Umatilla County native
who has lived in Hermiston
for 15 years, Seibel owns a
photography business. She
believes creativity builds
confidence
and
enjoys
being a part of nurturing
and supporting youths in an
expressive environment.
In addition, Seibel knows
her way around the dance
floor — she’s an instructor at
Dance Unlimited and is the
head dance coach at Herm-
iston High School.
Dancing with the Herm-
iston Stars is Saturday, Jan.
13 at 7 p.m. in the HHS
auditorium. Tickets are
$20 for adults and $10 for
students. They are available
at
www.desertartscouncil.
com, Hermiston Parks &
Recreation, and the Herm-
iston Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call
541-667-5018.
———
Contact
Community
Editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
If you were suddenly transported into
the presence of God and you heard a
prosecuting attorney listing all the reasons you
should be sent to hell, how would you plead?
Guilty or not guilty?
Th e apostle Paul said, “All have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God? (Romans 3:23). Th at makes us
guilty as charged. What is the penalty for our sin?
“Th e wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord?
(Romans 6:23)
What could we say in our defense? “God
demonstrates His own love towards us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8)
Because Jesus became our substitute, the penalty has
been paid. But we must accept His forgiveness as
a gift . Th e only requirement is that we recognize
our need and accept His off er.
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved… For ‘whoever calls
on the name of the LORD shall be saved”
(Romans 10:9, 13)
If you haven’t done so before, tell Jesus that you
believe He died as your substitute and accept
the free and undeserved gift of forgiveness.
Th at’s the only way to be right about
your wrong, to be accepted by God,
and to be sure of heaven.
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