NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
A5
Deputy cleared in Prineville shooting
By JOE SIESS
The Bulletin
PRINEVILLE — The Crook
County district attorney con-
cluded Friday, March 25, that the
shooting death of Nick Rodin by
sheriff ’s Deputy Steven Hatcher
was justifi ed under Oregon law.
Bodycam footage of the fatal
Feb. 4 encounter, which was
released Friday, shows a heated
exchange between Hatcher and
Rodin, who authorities believed
was armed and dangerous. In
the video, Rodin refuses to obey
several commands from Hatcher
and then approaches him in what
Crook County District Attor-
ney Kari Hathorn deemed was a
threatening manner. The encoun-
ter — and the video — ends when
Hatcher shoots Rodin twice.
“Deputy Hatcher responded
to the threat posed by Mr. Rodin
as he was trained to do,” Hathorn
said in an eight-page report
released Friday. “Mr. Rodin cre-
ated a situation which caused
Deputy Hatcher to reasonably
believe that Mr. Rodin was reach-
ing for a weapon, and therefore
posed an immediate threat to
Deputy Hatcher’s life.”
The 35-year-old Rodin,
who had a history of mental
health problems and a criminal
record that included prison time,
died on Maphet Road, south of
Prineville and not far from his
home.
Law enforcement offi cers
were on the lookout for Rodin
since early that day, after he
made two phone calls to Crook
County 911 dispatch and asked
to be arrested. He said he
was armed with a knife and a
handgun.
“You need to come pick
me up before I fl ip out and
hurt somebody,” Rodin told a
dispatcher.
Rodin, according to his family
and friends, was on a number of
medications to deal with mental
health conditions. His toxicology
report showed he was under the
infl uence of methamphetamine
in addition to his prescribed med-
ications at the time of his death,
Hathorn said in her report.
On the day he was shot by
Hatcher, Rodin had two outstand-
ing felony warrants for his arrest
for two separate incidents. One
warrant was for assault with a
dangerous weapon, and the sec-
ond was for battery with a dan-
gerous weapon.
The warrants required law
enforcement offi cers to arrest
Rodin and included “a safety
warning to law enforcement to
exercise caution with Mr. Rodin.”
Through most of the fatal
encounter, Hatcher believed
Rodin was armed, but never
saw a weapon, according to
Hathorn’s report.
Hatcher found Rodin around
1:30 p.m. that day on South-
east Maphet Road and called for
backup. But when Rodin reached
behind his back, Hatcher thought
he was reaching for a weapon and
pulled out his 9mm handgun. He
repeatedly ordered Rodin to get
on the ground and to place his
hands where he could see them.
The body camera footage
released by the district attor-
ney’s offi ce shows Rodin did not
comply.
The footage also shows
Rodin, who was sitting on the
ground, holding a bottle of soda
and a cellphone when he was
stopped by Hatcher. Rodin began
to act erratically and to engage in
a heated verbal altercation with
Hatcher during the encounter.
He eventually stood up and
slowly approached Hatcher, who
had his gun pointed at Rodin.
“Despite Deputy Hatch-
er’s repeated commands to Mr.
Rodin to get on the ground, Mr.
Rodin suddenly stood up and
approached Deputy Hatcher, stat-
ing ‘I ain’t scared. I ain’t scared
of you, dude. What’s up? Yeah, I
want to die. I want to die, dude!’”
Hathorn said in her report.
Hatcher gave Rodin — who
was about 25 pounds heavier
and a foot taller than Hatcher —
several verbal commands, tell-
ing him not to approach him and
to get back on the ground. But
Rodin remained standing.
As Rodin continued to
approach, Hatcher threatened to
shoot him if he did not comply,
and the verbal exchange contin-
ued to escalate.
“As Mr. Rodin approached
Deputy Hatcher, he quickly trans-
ferred the soda bottle from his
right hand to under his left arm,
freeing his right hand,” Hathorn’s
report states. “Mr. Rodin then
quickly reached toward his hip
with his right hand. Deputy
Hatcher discharged his fi rearm
twice. Mr. Rodin sustained fatal
injuries.”
After fi ring the shots that
killed Rodin, Hatcher called for
medics and “attempted lifesaving
eff orts until medics arrived,” the
report said.
Hathorn’s fi nal decision on
the matter came as no surprise
to Mike Fuller, the attorney for
Rodin’s family. “We are going
to fi le a civil action so a jury can
actually decide what a fair out-
come is,” Fuller said.
Fuller said it is common for
district attorneys to refuse to
take cases to a grand jury against
a police offi cer, and that his
expectations were in line with
Hathorn’s fi nal decision.
“So, this is no surprise to
me, and this is the outcome we
expected,” he said. “The legal
team anticipated the district attor-
ney would not bring charges
against the offi cer because that is
almost always the case.”
welfare check.
8:27 p.m.: Responded to
Meadowbrook
Apartments,
John Day, for a restraining order
violation.
March 24
6:22 a.m.: Responded to
Chester’s Market, John Day, for
suspicious circumstances.
9:51 a.m.: Responded to
Highway 395 North in Fox for a
welfare check.
10:37 a.m.: Responded to
Trafton Lane, John Day, for an
animal complaint.
5:32 p.m.: Responded to Day-
ville City park for a suspicious
person yelling and screaming.
10:15 p.m.: Responded to Ed
Staub and Sons, Canyon City, for
a public assist.
March 25
1:13 a.m.: Responded to West
Main Street, John Day, for a
harassment complaint.
10:06 a.m.: Responded to
West Main Street, John Day, for
a suspicious vehicle.
11:45 a.m.: Responded to Ace
Hardware, John Day, for a shop-
lifting complaint.
1:33 p.m.: Traffi c stop, Dairy
Queen, John Day. Driver warned
for speeding.
• John Day Ambulance
March 19
5:40 p.m.: Dispatched to Val-
ley View Assisted Living for an
86-year-old female with general
malaise.
10:45 p.m.: Patient trans-
port from Valley View Assisted
Living.
March 21
12:47 a.m.: Patient transfer at
the airport.
6:22 a.m.: Dispatched to
Northwest Holland Drive for a
male with a medical issue.
12:12 p.m.: Dispatched to
Riverside Mobile Home Park for
a female with a fall injury.
4:22 p.m.: Patient transfer at
the airport.
March 23
12:34 p.m.: Dispatched to
Northwest Boyce Place for a
58-year-old male with fl u-like
symptoms.
2:19 p.m.: Dispatched to
Northwest Boyce Place for a
male who was dehydrated.
5:47 p.m.: Patient trans-
fer from Valley View Assisted
Living.
March 24
8:47 a.m.: Dispatched to Val-
ley View Assisted Living for
a 98-year-old female who was
choking.
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforcement
agencies. Every eff ort is made
to report the court disposition of
arrest cases.
Grant County Circuit
Court
March 17: Wilmer Cecil Kee,
33, of John Day pleaded guilty
to driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants and refusal to take a
test for intoxicants in connection
with an incident that happened
on November 17. Two additional
charges of tampering with evi-
dence and open container were
dismissed. Kee’s driving privi-
leges were permanently revoked.
He was sentenced to two years of
supervised probation, 30 days in
jail with credit for time served,
80 hours of community service or
work crew time and fi ned $2,650.
He was also ordered to complete
the Victim Impact Panel pro-
gram, obtain a substance abuse
assessment, complete any recom-
mended treatment, not use intoxi-
cants and install an ignition inter-
lock device on his vehicle.
March 17: Courtney Gayle
Wildeboer, 29, of Portland was
convicted by a jury on March 1
of driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants in connection with an
incident that occurred on March
25, 2021. On March 17, she was
sentenced to 18 months of bench
probation, 80 hours of commu-
nity service or work crew time
and fi ned $1,000. In addition, she
was ordered to complete the Vic-
tim Impact Panel program, obtain
a substance abuse assessment,
complete all recommended treat-
ment and not use intoxicants.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce reported the following for
the week ending March 23:
Concealed handgun licenses:
8
Average inmates: 14
Bookings: 6
Releases: 8
Arrests: 1
Citations: 2
Fingerprints: 1
Civil papers: 11
Warrants processed: 4
Asst./welfare check: 0
Search and rescue: 0
Baker City, Dec. 14, 2019, fi ned
$440; Steven Matthew War-
rington, 32, John Day, Dec. 29,
2019, fi ned $440.
Failure to register vehicle:
Keatley Martin Wyant, 31, Baker
City, Dec. 14, 2019, fi ned $115;
Todd Malcolm Winegar, 44, Mt.
Vernon, Jan. 30, fi ned $115.
Careless driving resulting in
an accident: Thomas Shane Van
Tassel, 49, La Grande, Jan. 24,
fi ned $340.
Failure to drive within lane:
Fernando Madrigal, 56, Hills-
boro, Feb. 22, fi ned $265.
Trapping within the city lim-
its: Michael Leon Rose, 79, Prai-
rie City, Feb. 24, fi ned $115.
Failure to carry traction tires
or chains: Tristin Angles, 25,
Kuna, Idaho, Feb. 22, fi ned $165.
Exceeding permitted weight
limit: Mykel Ridgway, 37,
Prineville, Feb. 16, fi ned $150.
Dispatch
Grant County dispatch
worked 137 calls during the week
ending March 25, including:
• Oregon State Police
March 22
7:25 a.m.: Advised of a cow
and calf on Highway 26 near
milepost 147.
March 23
10:04 a.m.: Advised of a
parking complaint on Highway
26 near Laycock Creek.
March 24
7:15 p.m.: Advised of a calf in
Highway 26 near milepost 146.
• Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce
March 18
9:12 p.m.: Responded with
OSP to River Lane in John
Day for a 911 call with no one
speaking.
March 19
12:19 a.m.: Responded to El
Cocinero, Prairie City, for a dis-
orderly conduct complaint.
7:22 a.m.: Responded to
South Fork Road, Dayville, for a
criminal mischief complaint.
9:57 a.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 east of John Day for
a trespassing complaint.
11:49 a.m.: Responded to
Northwest Fifth Avenue, John
Day, for a driving complaint.
1:08 p.m.: Responded to
North Canyon Boulevard, John
Day, for a telephonic harassment
complaint.
2:11 p.m.: Responded to East
Second Street, Prairie City, for a
harassment complaint.
3:49 p.m.: Traffi c stop, High-
way 26 near milepost 163. Driver
warned for speeding.
4:40 p.m.: Responded to the
Dayville Mercantile to assist an
outside agency with a criminal
mischief complaint.
5:22 p.m.: Responded to Can-
yon City Builders for a public
assist.
6:23 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 east of Prairie City
for an unwanted subject.
11:38 p.m.: Traffi c stop, West
Main Street, John Day. Driver
warned for speeding.
March 20
1:11 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 165
for a single-vehicle crash.
4:35 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 135 to
assist a motorist.
5::35 p.m.: Responded to East
Main Street, John Day, for a cus-
todial dispute.
10:07 p.m.: Responded to
Southwest Brent Street, John
Day, for a noise complaint.
March 21
11:31 a.m.: Responded to
Tim’s
Mobile Pipe Press
OUR PLACE OR YOURS
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Justice Court
The Grant County Jus-
tice Court reported the follow-
ing activity for the week ending
March 23:
Cases on probation: 45
Traffi c citations fi led: 26
Violations fi led: 3
Misdemeanors fi led: 2
Small claims/civil fi led: 3
Hearings held: 8
Cases on probation: 45
Cases to Department of Rev-
enue: 201
Eviction proceeding in favor
of plaintiff : 1
Violation of the basic rule:
Mario Adolph Papineau, 64,
Kamloops, British Columbia,
March 3, 82-55 zone.
Exceeding the speed limit:
Thomas Grabowski, 62, Lake
Forest Park, Washington, March
6, 75/65 zone, fi ned $165.
Driving uninsured: Steven
Matthew Warrington, 32, John
Day, Aug. 20, 2019, fi ned $265;
Keatley Martin Wyant, 31, Baker
City, Dec. 14, 2019, fi ned $265;
Keatley Martin Wyant, 31, Baker
City, Dec. 22, 2019, fi ned $265;
Steven Matthew Warrington, 32,
John Day, Dec. 29, 2019, fi ned
$265; Dayce Dale Cummings,
28, Vale, Jan. 18, fi ned $265;
Colton Jay David, 26, Monu-
ment, Jan. 23, fi ned $265; Todd
Malcolm Winegar, 44, Mt. Ver-
non, Jan. 30, fi ned $265.
Driving while suspended:
Steven Matthew Warrington, 32,
John Day, Aug. 20, 2019, fi ned
$440; Keatley Martin Wyant, 31,
Highway 395 South, south of
Canyon City, for a theft report.
4:18 p.m.: Responded to the
Squeeze-In Restaurant and Deck,
John Day, for a public assist.
6:21 p.m.: Responded to
North Cozart Street, Prairie City,
for an animal complaint.
7:48 p.m.: Responded to
North Washington Street, Prairie
City, for a report of lost dogs. The
dogs returned home on their own.
March 22
7:59 a.m.: Responded to the
Grant County Jail for an assault.
8:47 a.m.: Responded to John
Day City Park for a theft report.
March 23
5:05 a.m.: Advised of an
injured deer on West Main Street,
John Day.
10:09 a.m.: Responded to
Seventh Street Sports Complex
for a suspicious person.
11:34 a.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 126 to
assist a motorist.
12:31 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 near milepost 143 to
assist a motorist.
3:06 p.m.: Responded to
Maple Street in Granite for a theft
report.
3:31 p.m.: Responded to
Highway 26 in Dayville for a
TUESDAY | APRIL 12, 2022
AGENDA
10:00 - 10:30 Grant SWCD and Weed Dept.
Kyle Sullivan and Matt Wenick
10:30 - 11:00 Oregon Trail Electric Co-Op Susan Snyder
11:00 - 11:30 OSU Grazing Plans and Monitoring
Chris Schachtschneider
11:30 - 12:00 ODFW Big Game Ryan Platte
11:00 - 2:00 Curbside Cravings Food Truck
Tri-Tip/Brisket & Sides $9-$13. Please RSVP by April 5th
1:00 - 2:00 Oregon Water Resources Dept. Erik Julsrud
2:00 - 2:30 OSU Forestry/Fire History John Rizza
2:30 - 3:00 Firewise - Home Ignition Sources Irene Jerome
Free ATV/UTV Weed Spray
Calibration & Booths Available
from 9-3 pm
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Location
Pavilion - 411 NW Bridge
St. John Day, OR 97845
BAG SALE
$5.00 per bag
FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2022
9AM-3PM
Bags will be provided
We look forward to seeing you & keeping you safe!
126 NW Canton, John Day
S286181-1
Questions?
Call 541-575-0135 ext.111 (Kyle),
114 (Stephanie), 109 (Lela)
Please RSVP for lunch by April 5th
Email stephanie.moothart@usda.gov
S286575-1
USDA is an equal opportunity provider,
employer and lender