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.
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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.
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