A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018
NEWS
Police to respond to fire alarms
By JADE MCDOWELL
STAFF WRITER
If you see police showing
up to a Hermiston school in
tactical gear, it may be noth-
ing more than a false alarm.
Hermiston Police Chief
Jason Edmiston announced
Friday that from now on,
available on-duty and patrol
officers will respond to any
local school, public or pri-
vate, that has an unexpected
fire alarm go off.
He said he’s aware that
people driving by may be
alarmed to see multiple offi-
cers arriving at a school and
donning protective helmets,
vests and rifles. But past
school shooters — includ-
ing the recent high school
shooting in Parkland, Flor-
ida — have pulled fire
alarms as a way to draw
more people into the hall-
ways, and the new policy
could cause the move to
backfire on someone intend-
ing to harm students by
bringing law enforcement
to the school before the first
9-1-1 call.
“Our focus is the safety
of the students,” Edmiston
said.
The downside is from
time to time local schools
do have false alarms, either
accidentally or as a result of
a student purposely pulling
an alarm when there is no
fire. Hermiston schools are
well-equipped with cam-
eras, Edmiston said, and
if a student pulls an alarm
HH FILE PHOTO
Hermiston High School students and teachers enter the Hermiston High School building in
August 2014 on the first day of school.
because they think it is
funny they could be charged
with disorderly conduct.
“It’s like yelling fire in
a movie theater or yelling
bomb on a plane,” he said.
“There’s some things you
just don’t do.”
Whether it’s a false alarm
or not, the public can help
by treating the appearance
of police seriously and not
interfering with officers. If it
turns out the fire alarm was
from an actual fire, police
can then help with traffic
and crowd control as the fire
department does its job.
Edmiston said when law
enforcement arrives at a
school, likely ahead of the
fire trucks, they will not
prevent fire personnel from
entering the building before
police have made contact
with a school administrator
to find out what is going on.
He said he notified Umatilla
County Fire District 1 of
the plan and will have a sit-
down to discuss it in-depth
next week.
“I told them, we’re not
going to call a false alarm,
that’s your job,” he said.
“And we’ll try and park out
of the way, let them do their
job.”
Edmiston
has
also
worked with Hermiston
School District Superin-
tendent Tricia Mooney and
director of operations Brad
Wayland on plans for future
fire alarms. Maria Duron,
communications officer for
the school district, said in an
email the district supports
the police department’s
decision to respond to fire
alarm activations. They also
plan to make the department
aware of scheduled drills
ahead of time.
“Should the fire alarms
go off in our schools
unplanned, we will be
investigating the cause,
staff and students will fol-
low safety procedures and
we will notify the public,”
she said.
Edmiston said there
has been some concern in
recent years about the “mil-
itarization” of police but the
vests, helmets and rifles that
police will put on over their
regular uniforms would
help protect them and give
them a better chance against
an active shooter.
POLICE LOG
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7
8:33 a.m. — A motor vehicle
crash was reported on Hermiston
Avenue.
10:43 a.m. — Someone reported
that their mother was a victim of a
scam and lost $3,199
1:58 p.m. — An assault was
reported on Southwest Ninth Street
in Hermiston.
4:11 p.m. — A break-in was
reported on West Donna Avenue.
7:22 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on East Jennie
Avenue.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8
9:29 a.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on East Jennie
Avenue.
1:41 p.m. — A woman requested
an officer come with her to repos-
sess a car that is in her name but her
ex has been driving.
2:38 p.m. — A drunk driver was
reported on West Sunland Avenue.
3:18 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Southwest
Debra Court.
3:58 p.m. — A visitor to the
police station reported that some-
one was sending them texts threat-
ening to kill them and their family.
4:44 p.m. — A drunk driver was
reported on Northwest 11th Street
and Elm Avenue.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
12:47 a.m. — A drunk driver was
reported on East Main Street.
1:08 a.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Northwest
12th Street, Hermiston.
2:55 a.m. — A caller reported
two juveniles pushed him off his
skateboard and stole it on Northwest
Sixth Street.
11:02 a.m. — A caller reported
her white Nissan pick-up was stolen
from her parents’ residence on West
Theater Lane.
6:09 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on West Orchard
Avenue.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
6:30 a.m. — A car was stolen
from East Hurlburt Avenue.
10:36 a.m. — A domestic dis-
turbance was reported on Kennedy
Avenue.
1:50 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Northwest
10th Street.
5:23 p.m. — A rollover motor
vehicle crash was reported on The-
ater Lane and Northeast 10th Street.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
1:25 a.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Northeast
10th Street.
7:25 p.m. — A driver reportedly
hit a bicyclist while backing out of
their driveway and the bicyclist was
very upset.
9:28 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Southwest
Oak Drive.
9:33 p.m. — A domestic distur-
bance was reported on Northeast
10th Street.
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
Suspect eludes arrest after chase
HERMISTON HERALD
A wanted man eluded
police for the second time
in less than two weeks,
and authorities are
warning he could
be
armed
and
dangerous.
Police
spent
much of March 7
searching for Nay-
than Olney, 36, near
Umatilla.
Shortly before 9 Olney
a.m. that day a caller
reported seeing Olney at
78626 Agnew Road, Herm-
iston. He is wanted from a
Feb. 24 incident in which he
fled a traffic stop in Hermis-
ton in a stolen vehicle, injur-
ing officer Doug Gill in the
process.
Umatilla County sher-
iff’s deputy Chris Daugh-
erty responded to the call
March 7, according to a
new release from the
sheriff’s office, and
set up near the house
while he waited for
backup.
As
Daugherty
waited, Olney sped
away from the house
in a stolen white
2017 Chevy Sil-
verado, the release
said.
Daugherty gave chase
down Agnew and Westland
roads with his lights flash-
ing, and Olney drove the
Silverado through a field
onto Bridge Road headed
west, where Daugherty was
unable to follow.
A Umatilla police offi-
cer found the vehicle soon
after and picked up the pur-
suit, which again went off
road through crop circles off
Powerline Road and toward
Interstate 82.
Olney abandoned the
truck near Milepost 2 and
went on foot toward the
Umatilla River. The Silver-
ado, reported stolen from a
farm in Morrow County, sus-
tained some damage but was
recovered and processed.
Multiple agencies set up
a perimeter and began a foot
search, and shortly after the
sheriff’s office drone was
deployed to scour the area.
Both Umatilla High
School and Clara Brownell
Middle School were locked
out during the early parts of
the search as a precaution,
according to superintendent
Heidi Sipe.
Olney has been known to
carry a handgun, according
to the press release, and any-
one who spots him should
not approach him but call
9-1-1 immediately.
He has a criminal his-
tory for theft in Clackamas
County dating back to 1998,
according to state records,
and a pending case for auto
theft in Umatilla County
from November 2017. He
was also an honor roll stu-
dent at Blue Mountain Com-
munity College for three
terms in 2014 and 2015.
First United Methodist Church
Hermiston
191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR
Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002
Nursery available • Check us out on Face Book
Worship Livestream at herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Pastor David Dever
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
www.hermistonlmbc.com
MEDICAL
DIRECTORY
COUNSELING
Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
FAMILY DENTISTRY
Family Dentistry
541-567-8161
995 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston
Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S .
MENTAL HEALTH
URGENT AND FAMILY CARE
LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS!
HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE &
• Adult, Child and Family Therapy
• Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment
• Mental Health and Crisis Services
• Confidential and Professional Care
LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON
331 SE 2nd St.,
595 NW 11th St.,
866-343-4473
Pendleton, OR 97801
Hermiston, OR 97838
Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Call Today!
541-289-5433
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115,
Hermiston, OR
(across from Good Shepherd Medical Center)
www.apd4kidz.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
URGENT CARE
Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries
We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
HOURS: Mon.-Sat.
7:30am-7:00pm
541-567-1137
236 E. Newport, Hermiston
(across from U.S. Bank)
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
t. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Echo
Community Church
21 N. Bonanza Street, Echo OR
Phone: (541) 376-8108
Sunday School • 9:30am
Worship • 10:45am
Children’s Church • 11:15am
Potluck & Communion ~
First Sunday of the Month
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
NEW BEGINNINGS
DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday
...............................English 7:00 am
Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm
SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm
...............................Spanish 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am
..........................Bilingual 11:00 am
..............................Spanish 1:00 pm
Offi ce..............................567-5812
First Christian
Church
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
Sunday School 9:15am
Worship Gathering 10:30 am
Children’s Church 10:30 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
VISION CARE
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Eye Health & Vision Care
Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC
Optometric Physician
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130
541-567-1837
567-8241
855 W. Highland • Hermiston
To advertise in the Medical Directory,
please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531
or Audra at 541-564-4538
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Nursery provided for all services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 PM
Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
~ N ew Patients Welcome~
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Pastor J.C. Barnett
Children’s Church &
Nursery Available
700 West Orchard Avenue
P.O. Box 933
Hermiston, Oregon
541-567-8441
The Full Gospel
Home Church
235 SW 3rd
Phone 567-7678
Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker
Sunday:
Sunday School........10:00 am
Worship...................11:00 am
Evening Service........7:00 pm
Wednesday Service..7:00 pm
“Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.”
1 Pet. 5:7
1520 W ORCHARD AVE
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am
SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE,
SERVING PEOPLE
www.hermistonnazarene.org
To share your
worship times call
541-278-2678