NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
A5
COPS & COURTS
Arrests and citations in
the Blue Mountain Eagle are
taken from the logs of law
enforcement agencies. Every
effort is made to report the
court disposition of arrest
cases.
Contributed Photo/Shyla Marciel
The fire at Harper Creek
south of Mt. Vernon burned
9.4 acres before being con-
tained on July 26.
Weekend
fire near
Mt. Vernon
contained
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
Firefighters
worked
together over the weekend
to contain the Harper Creek
Fire, south of Mt. Vernon.
Mt. Vernon Deputy Chief
Todd McKinley said the fire
was caused by an illegal burn
barrel on July 25.
He said that the fire
burned 9.4 acres of land and
was heavily fueled by juni-
per and pine trees along with
grass and brush.
A structure near the fire
was initially in danger, but
the fire moved away from it.
“There were other struc-
tures that the fire could have
eventually gotten to if it
had not been contained as
quickly,” McKinley said.
Mt. Vernon rural fire
department sent four engines,
a water tender and a com-
mand vehicle on the initial
day, and John Day rural fire
sent a brush engine, com-
mand structure and a water
tender. McKinley said ODF
sent four engines, a helicop-
ter and command structure.
A neighboring landowner
provided a bulldozer and
erected a line around the fire.
The fire was contained at
1:25 p.m. July 26. The area
will be monitored for sev-
eral days for any hot spots
or flareups, according to
McKinley.
There were no inju-
ries and no loss of livestock
reported, he said.
McKinley said people
should know the restrictions
before burning. He said there
is currently an active burn
ban.
“It takes many volun-
teers out of the community to
make things like this have a
good outcome, and I appre-
ciate everybody’s involve-
ment,” McKinley said.
Grant County Circuit
Court
Takoda L. Propeck violated
his probation conditions on a
count of failure to complete
community service work. On
July 22, he was sentenced to 10
additional hours of community
service and to pay $25 in proba-
tion violation fees.
James W. Cook, 30, pleaded
guilty Oct. 10 to a count of
driving under the influence of
intoxicants committed on Aug.
29. According to information
filed in circuit court by Dis-
trict Attorney Jim Carpenter,
Cook failed to obey all laws.
The diversion agreement was
revoked July 22, and the DUII
conviction was entered on the
record. Cook’s license was sus-
pended for a year, and he was
sentenced to 48 hours in jail, 12
months of bench probation and
ordered to pay $1,250 in fines
and restitution.
Justin R. Briney, 36, pleaded
guilty on July 22 to a count of
menacing constituting domestic
violence committed on March
12 and pleaded guilty on July
16 to two counts of strangula-
tion constituting domestic vio-
lence committed on March 12.
He was sentenced to 20 days in
jail, 36 months of probation, 50
hours of community service and
to pay $450 in court fees. Two
counts of fourth-degree assault
and a count of menacing were
dismissed.
Andrew S. Ballou, 26,
pleaded guilty on July 22 for a
count of felon in possession of a
firearm committed on April 28.
He was sentenced to 264 days
of probation, 40 hours of com-
munity service and to pay $350
in court fees.
Lindsey M. Lewis, 35,
pleaded guilty on July 22 for a
count of criminal trespassing in
the second degree committed
on Aug. 4. She was sentenced
to 11 months of bench proba-
tion. A count of menacing was
dismissed.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of July 22:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 7
Average inmates: 11
Bookings: 10
Releases: 9
Arrests: 0
Citations: 1
Fingerprints: 5
Civil papers: 15
Warrants processed: 4
Assistance/Welfare check: 1
Search and Rescue: 0
Travis Freniere, 34, of John
Day was cited for driving while
suspended and no insurance.
Grant County Justice
Court
Violation of the basic rule:
Thomas N. Rigney, 40, Mt. Ver-
non, May 24, 73/55 zone, fined
$165; Kimberly J. Rufener, 30,
Madras, May 20, 69/55 zone,
fined $165; Eric J. Johnson,
40, Baker City, May 21, 73/55
zone, fined $165; Melissa M.
Adams, 40, Pendleton, Feb. 26,
75/55 zone, fined $165; Wal-
ter B. Cziske, 71, Shoreline,
Washington, May 28, 75/55
zone, fined $165; Carl A. Kalte-
ich, 75, Dayville, July 7, 74/55
zone, fined $100; Emily E.
Christensen, Prineville, May
23, 79/55 zone, fined $265.
Exceeding speed limit:
Emily Vahsholte, 24, Klamath
Falls, June 13, 80/65 zone, fined
$265.
Driving while suspended:
Steven M. Warrington, 30, John
Day, July 3, fined $440, July 6,
fined $440, July 12, fined $440,
July 12, fined $440, July 13,
fined $440, July 15, fined $440.
Driving uninsured: Steven
M. Warrington, 30, John Day,
July 3, fined $265, July 6, fined
$265, July 12, fined $265, July
12, fined $265, July 13, fined
$265.
Improper left turn: Steven
M. Warrington, 30, John Day,
July 3, fined $265.
No seat belt: Chance J. Fleet-
wood, 21, Mt. Vernon, May 16,
fined $115.
Endangering
all-terrain
vehicle: Michael L. Gienger,
49, Prineville, May 23, fined
$115.
Oregon State Police
July 19: OSP stopped a vehi-
cle on Highway 26 near mile-
post 155 for speeding, 46/30
zone, and failure to drive
within lane. On contact with the
driver, Dustin M. Wright, 22,
of Drewsey, OSP saw he had
glassy eyes. There was a mod-
erate odor of an alcoholic bev-
erage coming from the vehi-
cle. Wright admitted to drinking
two beers. Wright consented
to field sobriety tests where he
displayed further indicators
of impairment. OSP arrested
Wright for driving under the
influence of intoxicants. OSP
transported Wright to the Grant
County Jail. Wright submit-
ted to a breath test that indi-
cated a blood alcohol concen-
tration result of 0.09%. OSP
issued Wright citations for driv-
ing under the influence of alco-
hol and speeding, 46/30 zone.
July 19: OSP responded to a
single-occupant, single motor
vehicle crash near milepost 3.5
on Highway 395C. The driver
fell asleep at the wheel, and
the vehicle drifted off the west
side of the highway. The vehi-
cle came to a rest in an orchard.
The vehicle was towed by
Frontier Towing, and the driver
was taken to the hospital by
ambulance with complaints of
pain.
July 19: OSP stopped a Ford
Focus for driving in the oncom-
ing lane multiple times on
Highway 395C near milepost
6. Indicators of drug use were
observed, and OSP responded
to assist with the DUII and
drug investigation. The adult
male driver performed field
sobriety tests for OSP and
was found not to be impaired
to the point of arrest. A con-
sent search resulted in seizure
of a user quantity of metham-
phetamine. Jay J. Moore was
cited and released for posses-
sion of controlled substances.
A friend picked Moore up from
the scene.
July 20: OSP responded to
a reported single motor vehicle
injury crash, partially block-
ing the Highway 26 and State
Route 19 junction. OSP later
located the driver, Russell L.
Hall, 60, of Portland, in Day-
ville who was then issued a
citation for a careless driv-
ing and driving uninsured.
During the investigation, OSP
contacted his 42-year-old
nephew, Randy A. Hall, and
found he had a misdemeanor
arrest warrant. Due to COVID-
19, Randy Hall was cited and
released to appear before Lin-
coln County Circuit Court.
OSP later contacted Russell’s
passenger, Deanna Townsend,
51, of Portland, who had been
transported to Blue Mountain
Hospital complaining of chest
pain. She was taken into cus-
tody and transported to the
Grant County Jail and lodged
on a felony arrest warrant.
July 23: OSP responded
to the area of milepost 24 on
Highway 395C on a reported
rollover crash with an ejec-
tion. When OSP arrived on
scene, the driver, a 31-year-old
woman, was being transported
to the hospital by ambulance.
Investigation including witness
interviews and roadway evi-
dence revealed the driver was
southbound at a high rate of
speed when her vehicle drifted
across the northbound lane
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of travel and onto the shoul-
der. The driver over-corrected
and crossed back over both the
north and southbound lanes of
travel. The vehicle left the road
off the southbound shoulder,
crashing through a fence and
rolling to its point of uncon-
trolled rest, approximately 600
feet from where the vehicle ini-
tially left the road. There were
multiple empty alcohol con-
tainers on the ground around
the car as well as at least one
empty alcohol container in the
car. The driver was seen by a
witness in Seneca prior to the
crash and was reported to be
stumbling and unsteady on her
feet. The driver admitted to
emergency medical responders
that she had consumed alcohol.
The driver gave a blood sample
at the hospital under implied
consent. Hospital staff advised
OSP a blood sample taken by
the hospital revealed a BAC of
0.11%. OSP cited and released
the driver, Rebecca T. Born,
31, at the hospital for DUII-al-
cohol and reckless driving.
July 24: A two-vehicle
motor vehicle crash occurred on
Highway 395C near milepost
11.5. The crash occurred when
a 2012 Ford Focus that was
northbound failed to nego-
tiate a curve, traveling into
the oncoming lane, striking a
2000 Ford pickup pulling an
aluminum boat on a trailer.
Both vehicles came to a rest
on the southbound shoulder.
The driver of the Focus was
injured in the crash and taken
by a private party into Canyon
City where they met an ambu-
lance and were transported to
the hospital. The driver and
passenger of the Ford pickup
were not injured. During
an interview with officers at
the hospital, the driver of the
Focus stated he had fallen
asleep. The Ford Focus driver,
Jay J. Moore, 23, was issued
citations for careless driving
and failure to maintain lane.
A driving uninsured citation is
pending.
July 25: OSP stopped Ste-
phen P. Hancock, 44, of Can-
yon City near milepost 162 on
Highway 26, knowing he had
a misdemeanor warrant for his
arrest. The Grant County Jail
would not lodge Hancock, per
COVID-19 policy. OSP cited
and released Hancock from the
scene.
July 25: OSP stopped a vehi-
cle near milepost 162 on High-
way 26 for a speeding viola-
tion. OSP contacted the driver,
Michael S. Griffin, 44, of John
Day. Griffin did not have iden-
tification and verbally iden-
tified himself. According to
DMV records, Griffin’s driving
status was felony suspended.
OSP arrested Griffin, secured
his vehicle at the scene and
transported him to the Grant
County Jail. OSP issued Grif-
fin a citation for felony driving
while suspended. After leav-
ing the jail, OSP received cred-
ible information the suspension
was likely a DMV error. OSP
located Griffin and gave him a
courtesy ride to his residence.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
138 calls during the week of
July 20-26, including:
• John Day Police
Department
July 20: Arrested Nicole C.
Schaffer, 24, of Mt. Vernon for
criminal trespass at a business
on West Main Street.
July 20: Cited Gregory
A. Wells, 61, of Moses Lake,
Washington, for speeding on
South Canyon Boulevard and
Second Street.
July 22: Travis J. Freniere,
34, of John Day was arrested
for fourth-degree assault and
disorderly conduct on South-
west Brent Street.
July 24: Arrested Austin J.
Catron, 18, of John Day for
assault on Southwest Fourth
Street.
July 25: Arrested Gerald
Roe, 58, of Canyon City for
driving while revoked on High-
way 26.
July 25: Responded to a
report of harassment on High-
way 26. Kassidy Williams, 19,
of John Day was cited for reck-
less driving and driving without
a license.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
July 26: Responded to a
report of trespass by a person
with warrants on West Bench
Road.
• John Day ambulance
July 20: Responded for an
84-year-old man with a sus-
pected heat stroke on Overholt
Street.
July 20: Responded for a
79-year-old woman who was
not responsive at Blue Moun-
tain Care Center.
July 23: Along with Sen-
eca ambulance, Seneca fire
and OSP, dispatched for a sin-
gle-vehicle rollover crash with
ejections on Highway 395S
near milepost 23.5.
July 26: Responded for an
83-year-old man having heat
stroke on Dogpatch Lane.
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MyEagleNews.com
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