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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2018)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 27, 2018 A5 Law enforcement Jail inventory policy agencies filling positions found unconstitutional Prairie City contract still under consideration By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Grant County residents will see some changes in law enforcement services in the next few months, as some existing positions are refilled and one new posi- tion is created for the county jail. In a June 6 letter to the Grant County Court, Un- dersheriff Zach Mobley re- quested the addition of two positions to the sheriff’s of- fice. The county court tabled the request at their June 13 meeting, citing insufficient information at that time. County Judge Scott My- ers said it was his under- standing the two positions would be filled by current sheriff’s office personnel, but there would be an in- crease in sheriff’s office staff size by one position. Grant County Treasurer Julie Ellison told the Eagle the costs of the two posi- tions were not yet included in the draft budget. According to Mobley’s request, a new patrol ser- geant position would have both patrol and office duties. The goal would be to have a supervisor on the road seven days a week. The salaried position would pay $57,800 per year. The second position would be a jail sergeant ro- tating with Sgt. Josh Wolf to provide a supervisor in the jail seven days a week. The position would pay $57,800 per year, same as the current jail sergeant. “With our current jail contracts and our increase in inmate population due to these contracts, we have to call people in to help the current sergeant with the increased work load,” Mo- bley said. “This would help relieve this work load and the increase we have with overtime and part-time em- ployees.” The Prairie City City Council discussed a pro- posed police contract with the sheriff’s office during their June 13 meeting. The city’s contract with John Day will end June 30. No decision was made by the council. The county contract would be similar to the John Day contract, Mobley told the Eagle, with a cost that could be accommodated by Prairie City’s budget. With no contract in place, sher- iff’s deputies would contin- ue to respond to emergency calls from Prairie City but wouldn’t handle property crimes. Volume-wise, the sheriff’s office would re- spond as available without a contract, Mobley said. John Day Interim Police Chief Mike Durr said Sam Stinnett, a corrections depu- ty at the Grant County Jail, has been hired for the John Day Police Department. Stinnett will start July 9 and head out to the police acade- my in September. Sgt. Tom Hutchison said the Oregon State Police was in the process of filling two vacancies at the John Day Work Site. Meth possession case dropped as a result By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle A recent ruling by the Or- egon State Court of Appeals found the inventory policy at Grant County Jail to be un- constitutional in the case of a John Day man found to be in possession of methamphet- amine. The case of State v. Steele was brought to the attention of the Grant County Court by attorney Rob Raschio during the court’s June 13 meeting. Grant County District Attor- ney Jim Carpenter later told the Eagle the jail policy will need to be changed to address the issue. “The jail policy needs to be revised and approved by the county court to be in com- pliance with Oregon law,” he said. “As this is a county policy, the county’s attorney would be the one to advise re- garding necessary changes.” The arrest Anthony S. Steele, 53, was arrested May 9, 2015, by Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Cody Weaver after the Crook County Sheriff’s Office reported it had proba- ble cause to arrest Steele for harassment. During a search for nee- dles or anything sharp, Weav- er found a small, clear plastic bag in Steele’s coin pocket that contained methamphet- amine. Steele was transported to the Grant County Jail and transferred to the custody of Deputy Pete DeRosier. Weaver later testified that DeRosier typically conducts his own search at the jail “just to make sure that there’s no contraband on them before they bring them into the jail.” Steele was charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine. His attor- ney filed a motion to suppress the evidence, arguing that the methamphetamine was dis- covered during a warrantless search that did not fall within any of the exceptions to the warrant requirement. The state countered that the methamphetamine was discovered by Weaver in ac- cordance with an Oregon State Police policy of search- ing arrestees before placing them in a vehicle, and “the drugs inside the defendant’s coin pocket would inevitably have been discovered when the jail inventoried the defen- dant during the booking pro- cess.” The hearing During a hearing on the defendant’s motion to sup- press, the state introduced two excerpts from the jail’s inven- tory policy. Part B-103 stated that all inmates “will be pat searched or frisked searched ... immediately upon entering the facility,” and part B-301 stated that, during inventory, the booking deputy or arrest- ing officer will remove “any items found from pockets, etc.” DeRosier then testified about the policies. When asked by the defense coun- sel “if there was, say, a film canister or something in a See JAIL, Page A18 C OPS AND C OURTS Grant County Circuit Court Thomas J. Elliott, 56, John Day, pleaded guilty May 25 to criminally negligent homicide and unlawful use of a weapon in the death of Todd Berry on Aug. 24, 2017. He was sen- tenced to five years in prison and three years post-prison supervision. He was ordered to pay $16,405 in restitution. A charge of first-degree man- slaughter was dismissed. Laura M. Brunton, 56, Mt. Vernon, pleaded guilty June 21 to driving under the influence of intoxicants on April 8. She was sentenced to seven days in jail, 18 months probation and $2,255 in fines and fees. She was ordered to install an ignition interlock de- vice on any vehicle she drove, and her driver’s license was suspended for one year. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of June 20: Concealed handgun licens- es: 36 Average inmates: 19 Bookings: 6 Releases: 12 Arrests: 2 Citations: 3 Fingerprints: 1 Civil papers: 3 Warrants processed: 2 Asst./welfare check: 0 Search and rescue: 0 June 18: Tarah Otto, 18, Boise, Idaho, was cited for being a minor under 21 in pos- session of marijuana. June 18: Dylan Lopez, 18, Boise, Idaho, was cited for be- ing a minor under 21 in pos- session of marijuana. June 18: Karson Prodz- inski, 19, Garden City, Idaho, was cited for being a minor under 21 in possession of mar- ijuana. Justice Court Exceeding speed lim- it: Callie N. Covington, 21, Blodgett, May 28, 77/65 zone, fined $240; Noah P. Fulfer, 24, Redmond, March 28, 45/30 zone, fined $165; Arias Perez Cuauhtemoc, 27, Medford, April 8, 76/65 zone, fined $276; Haley B. Miller, 20, Portland, May 9, 37/25 zone, fined $165; Lindsay A. Da- vies, 39, Burns, June 10, 55/35 zone, fined $165; Kim C. Ry- dalch, 66, Modesto, Califor- nia, June 4, 58/30 zone, fined $265; Eldon M. Grimmett, 39, Blackfoot, Idaho, June 8, 75/65 zone, fined $165. Violation of basic rule: Jo- siah D. Martin, 21, Mt. Ver- non, June 5, 77/55 zone, fined $140. Violation of speed limit: Francis E. Redick, 54, Ma- dras, May 7, 80/65 zone, fined $165. Driving uninsured: Mathew P. Walker, 35, John Day, April 18, fined $265; David J. Darling, 43, Canyon City, April 14, fined $530; Haley B. Miller, 20, Portland, May 9, fined $265; Orion D. Bliss, 24, John Day, March 9, fined $265; David D. Mill- er, 43, St. Johns, April 8, fined $265; Travis B. Farr, 25, Burns, March 14, fined $500, March 15, fined $1,000, March 24, fined $1,000; Nich- olas A. Fitowski, 26, Gresh- am, March 28, fined $265; David L. Snyder, 55, Portland, April 23, fined $265; Arias Pe- rez Cuauhtemoc, 27, Medford, March 16, fined $265; Timo- thy L. Keith, 34, Prairie City, May 3, fined $530; Poppy R. Grover, 39, La Grande, March 31, fined $265; Michele Trim- ble, 43, Mt. Vernon, May 8, fined $225; Charles C. Paul- son, 41, John Day, May 19, fined $265. Driving while suspended: Orion D. Bliss, 24, John Day, March 9, fined $440; Danet- ta D. Lewis, 24, Prairie City, March 25, fined $440; Tra- vis B. Farr, 25, Burns, March 14, fined $1,000, March 15, fined $1,000, March 24, fined $2,000; Mathew P. Walker, 34, John Day, April 18, fined $440; David J. Darling, 43, Canyon City, April 14, fined $1,000; David D. Miller, 43, St. Johns, April 8, fined $440; Timothy L. Keith, 35, Prai- rie City, May 3, fined $880, March 7, fined $880; Benja- min L. Keith, 38, Prairie City, April 27, fined $880; Poppy R. Grover, 39, La Grande, March 31, fined $440; Michele Trim- ble, 43, Mt. Vernon, May 8, fined $375; Charles C. Paul- son, 41, John Day, May 19, fined $440. Driving while revoked: Ollie Starnes, 48, John Day, April 8, fined $440. Failure to register vehicle: Orion D. Bliss, 24, John Day, March 9, fined $530; Adam G. Jennings, 28, John Day, April 8, fined $115; Nicholas A. Fi- towski, 26, Gresham, March 28, fined $115. Operate a vehicle without proper light: David J. Darling, 43, Canyon City, April 14, fined $330. No operator’s license: Nicholas A. Fitowski, 26, Gresham, March 28, fined $265; Haley B. Miller, 20, Portland, May 9, fined $265; Tanner J. Prock, 21, Lynden, Washington, March 31, fined $265. Illegal alteration or dis- play of plates: Orion D. Bliss, 24, John Day, March 9, fined $265. Operating an unsafe ve- hicle: Mathew P. Walker, 34, John Day, April 18, fined $265. Failure to renew registra- tion: Timothy L. Keith, 35, Prairie City, March 7, fined $250. Registration sticker ex- pired: Poppy R. Grover, 39, La Grande, March 31, fined $115. Failure to properly use a safety belt: Ollie Starnes, 48, John Day, April 8, fined $125. Failure to wear a helmet on a moped: Douglas R. McCoy, 66, Trout Lake, Washington, June 11, fined $115. Failure to display license plates: Michele Trimble, 43, Mt. Vernon, May 8, fined $100. Improper exhaust system: Orion D. Bliss, 24, John Day, March 9, fined $880. Failure to carry a valid reg- istration: David D. Miller, 43, St. Johns, April 8, fined $115. Failure to carry a valid reg- istration card: Travis B. Farr, 25, Burns, March 15, fined $250. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 131 calls during the week of June 18-25, including: • John Day Police Depart- ment June 18: Received a live- stock complaint in John Day. June 18: Responded to a domestic dispute on North- west First Street in John Day. June 19: Advised of loose cattle at Third Street and Highway 26 in John Day. June 19: Following a traffic stop on Highway 26 at South- east Gunther Street, Victoria McLean, 35, Prairie City, was cited for driving with a sus- pended license and no insur- ance. June 19: Responded to the Grant County Fairgrounds for a loose horse on the road. June 20: Following a traf- fic stop on Main Street in John Day, Christopher Lunch, 29, was cited for speeding 43/25 zone. June 22: Responded to a re- port of smoke on West Bench Road in John Day. June 22: Dispatched to the Department of Human Ser- vices in John Day and arrested Kris Goodwin, 27, John Day, on a Grant County warrant. June 22: Responded to Northwest Bridge Street in John Day for a noninjury ac- cident. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office June 18: Received a report of fraud on West Main Street in John Day. June 18: Responded to Highway 26 in Mt. Vernon for a possible domestic dispute. June 18: Dispatched to Highway 26 in John Day for a possible trespasser. June 18: Responded to West Main Street in John Day for a juvenile problem. June 19: Received a report of a vehicle on Highway 26 west of Mt. Vernon driving on a rim and shooting sparks. June 21: Received a report of suspicious circumstances and a juvenile possibly in dis- tress at a motel in Mt. Vernon. June 21: Contacted a per- son on Ingle Street in Mt. Vernon about telephonic ha- rassment. June 22: Advised of suspi- cious circumstances at a con- venience store in Dayville. June 22: Responded with Dayville fire and ambulance to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 26 near Dayville. June 23: Advised of tele- phonic harassment in Day- ville. June 23: Responded to Northeast Dayton Street in John Day for a theft report. June 23: Responded to a telephonic harassment report on East Main Street in John Day. June 23: Advised of an of- ficer assist request for a tres- passer on Southwest Brent Drive in John Day. June 23: Responded to West Main Street in John Day for a report of children playing in traffic. June 23: Dispatched to Forest Road 16 in Seneca for a noninjury crash. June 23: Responded with Oregon State Police to High- way 19 near Monument for an unwanted and intoxicated person. June 23: Dispatched to a restaurant on Main Street in John Day for a theft report. June 23: Received a report of animal neglect on Bumpy Road in John Day. June 23: Responded to West Main Street in John Day for a noninjury crash. June 23: Dispatched with Oregon State Police to West Main Street in John Day for a domestic dispute. • John Day ambulance June 19: Paged for a 74-year-old man on Middle Fork Lane near Bates. June 19: Responded to a senior facility in John Day for an 85-year-old man. June 21: Dispatched to Highway 26 in Mt. Vernon for a lifeline alert. June 21: Responded to North Johnson Avenue in Prairie City for a woman with chest pain. June 23: Dispatched to Front Street in Prairie City for a 63-year-old man with knee pain. • Seneca ambulance June 21: Dispatched to Seneca. • U.S. Forest Service June 20: Received a report of several lightning strikes on Fall Mountain south of Can- yon City. June 20: Received a report of a possible forest fire in the Harper Creek drainage south of Mt. Vernon. June 20: Advised of a pos- sible fire in the Bear Creek drainage between John Day and Prairie City. June 21: Received a report of a possible fire up Laycock Road in John Day. June 22: Advised of a pos- sible fire down the South Fork Road south of Dayville. June 23: Advised of a fire near Spray. • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife June 20: Report of a skunk trapped on Canyon Creek Lane in Canyon City. • Oregon Department of Transportation June 20: Advised of a flash flood in the Izee and Paulina area. 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY MOVIE SCHEDULE JUNE 29 - JULY 5 JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (PG-13) When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. FRI-THURS (4:00) 7:00 9:40 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to take care for Jack- Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world. FRI-THURS (3:50) 6:50 9:35 HEREDITARY (R) Drama/Horror. When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter’s family be- gins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. FRI-THURS (3:45) 6:45 9:45 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth T HE L AW O FFICE OF D ONALD J. M OLNAR A General Practice Law Firm • Wills, Trusts, and Estates • Divorce and Family Law • Contracts, Real Estate, Business • Personal Injury • Criminal Defense 118 S. Washington Street, Canyon City, OR 97820 (541) 620-5127 60998 65213 Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law en- forcement agencies. Every ef- fort is made to report the court disposition of arrest cases. Committees are formal public bodies required to comply with Oregon Public Meetings Law ORS 192.610. ORS 341.019. Seven members plus three ex- officio members serve three year terms and meet monthly to promote local educational opportunities and identify educational needs within the local community. ORS 215.020. Nine members serve four year terms and two alternates serve two year terms, meeting as needed to review land use and zoning applications and discuss city and county growth issues and the siting of new facilities. Members must be residents of various geographic areas within the county and no more than two voting members shall be engaged in the same kind of business, occupation, trade or profession with agriculture designations of livestock / forage crop production and horticulture / specialty crop production. Commissioners serving in this capacity must file an Annual Verified Statement of Economic Interest with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Members must re-apply to the County Court before their term ends if they wish to be re-appointed. ORS 410.210. Five members serve three year terms and meet semi-annually to define the needs of older adults, promote special interests and local community involvement, and represent senior citizens as an advocate to the local, state and federal government and other organizations. 64140
