Police briefs: March 5, 2025

Car trouble — In January, Hood River Sheriff’s Office reported 12 non-injury crashes, three hit-and-runs, unlawful entry into motor vehicles on Summit View Drive, and a firearms found in a vehicle after its purchase on Jan. 30.

Crashes — Feb. 16-22, Hood River police reported three vehicle crashes, one with minor injuries, and three hit-and-runs.

Mental health — On Jan. 20, a person was taken into custody on a director’s hold and transported to a mental hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, The Dalles dispatch got five mental health calls.

Fraud — In January, Hood River Sheriff deputies made two fraud reports; three ID theft reports; and two reports of both ID theft and forgery. Plus a report of fraudulent checks on Jan. 17, and a fake $50 bill found on NW WaNaPa Jan. 20. And on Jan. 22, deputies took a scam report.

Death — Hood River Sheriff’s deputies reported three unattended deaths and fourth death investigation in January.

Diamonds gone — Hood River police reported three thefts Feb. 16 - 22, including a $2,000 diamond necklace stolen from Columbia Gorge Hotel. The jewels were taken from an area only accessed by hotel employees.

Thefts and stolen — The Dalles police took eight theft reports last week: Shoplifting, shoes, pickup, items from vehicle on Eighth Street, electric tools from Eighth Street, bags of cans from Pleasant Court, items from vehicle on Eight Street taken Feb. 25, stolen vehicle from Ninth.

Knife — A person was arrested on charges of assault and menacing after allegedly threatening a partner with a knife.

Stabbing — Another person was arrested on warrants and an assault charge after allegedly stabbing another person in the neck on Eleventh Street Feb. 22. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue also responded; the would was taped up and the patient conscious and standing up. The suspect remained at large until located by the suspect via a life 360 app the next day. They were located in a tent near the end of W. 2nd Street. Due to a report of stolen firearms possibly in their possession, and previously resisting arrest, there was a caution for officer safety. Units converged on foot and contacted the person, arresting them at about 2:14 p.m. Feb. 23. The possible stolen firearms from Goldendale, allegedly associated with this suspect according to one reporting party, were not found.

Stabbing 2.0 — A person was arrested on unspecific charges after allegedly stabbing themself in the head with a butter knife on Feb. 23.

Fatal crash — Officers assisted with a fatal crash involving two motorcycles and a Honda Accord on Eighth Street Feb. 25. The crash was reported at about 10:55 a.m., and a chaplain and medics responded. A funeral home was contacted at the end of the call.

Stolen and smashed — A stolen vehicle eluded Hood River police on I-84, eastbound near milepost 69. It later crashed, with heavy windshield damage, after a pursuit at speeds of 73 mph. The driver abandoned the vehicle.

Hit fence — Feb. 23, on Seventh Street, a car smashed into a fence owned by Wasco Electric and Chenowith Water PUD, then left, leaving a chunk of itself on scene. The driver was contacted and arrested on charges of DUII and hit and run.

Dog versus UPS — The Dalles police got 23 animal-related calls Feb. 21-28. Livetrapping of cats; dogs at large, barking, allegedly charging kids at Kramer Field. And on Feb. 25, a pit pull on 18th Street was “trying to ‘eat’ the UPS man and is actively chasing the UPS driver through the neighborhood.” Another dog, allegedly locked in a vehicle, was honking the horn when it got called in on Feb. 27.

Wrong George — A person was placed in handcuffs for a few minutes following a near hit on a warrant for someone with the same first name on Feb. 22. It was determined the warrant was for a different person, and the arrested person was let free immediately.

Arrests made — From Feb. 9-15, Hood River police arrested people on these charges: DUII (one), driving while suspended (two), reckless driving (one), reckless endangering (one), theft (one), warrant (three). And last week, from Feb. 13-21, The Dalles police arrested people for these charges: assault (one), burglary (one), driving misdemeanor (one), drug violation (one), mischief (four), theft (two), trespass (two), unlawful entry into vehicle (one), warrant (three). Oregon State police arrested people on these charges: assault (one), attempt to elude with vehicle (one), DUII (two), hit-and-run (one), reckless driving (three), recklessly endangering another person (two), unlawful possession of firearm (one), warrant (three). And Wasco County Sheriff’s Office does not log its arrests.

Cash, cooler, mail gone — The Dalles police took nine theft reports week before last: A $600 cooler stolen from a local hotel, bag of tools (also worth about $600) stolen from inside a wrenched-open building on Court Street, tools during the night, shoplifting (two), bag from car, stolen vehicle. In one case, $1,000 in cash was stolen from a safe on Sixth Street Feb. 17; investigation is ongoing. In another, a tray of mail was stole from a mail carrier’s van on Cherry Heights on Feb. 18. That week, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office logged two thefts, and an identity theft. And from Feb. 9-15, Hood River police reported two shoplifting incidents and a stolen vehicle.

Burglaries — The Dalles police reported a burglary on Feb. 13. Someone broke a patio door and threw a rock through a window. A burglary on Jake Davidson Grade Road Feb. 18.

Dog on drugs — The Dalles dispatch got 11 animal-related calls week before last: Dogs at large, neglected, missing, lunging on their chains, fed fentanyl, doghouse collapsed ... Wasco County dispatch also logged six animal calls.

Lines go down — “Powerlines exploding” were called in from E. 8th and Laughlin streets on Feb. 13. A transformer was sparking and the powerlines were on fire briefly before collapsing.

Flare thrown — A person reported to The Dalles Police that two others attempted to burn their camp down, by throwing a flare toward their house. Report taken Feb. 13-21.

Just one — Once again Feb. 13-21, The Dalles dispatch only got one mental health related call.

Minors in possession — Juvenile persons were cited for being minors in possession of intoxicants on Second Street, The Dalles, on Feb. 15.

Crashes in the snow — A vehicle crashed into a Cherry Heights building around 7 a.m., causing an estimated $30,000 in damage. No injuries. The driver was cited. And later, two vehicles crashed Feb. 18, in a Mt. Hood Street pharmacy drive-thru. Wasco County deputies logged three accidents.

Slides off Westcliff — Hood River officers and multiple first responders from other agencies were dispatched to the 34000 block of Westcliff Drive, for a single vehicle which had slid off Westcliff Drive during a snowstorm Feb. 13 and fallen down a steep embankment. The injured driver was transported to a local hospital. Another Hood River crash that week didn’t result in injuries.

Five injuries — Feb. 13, an eastbound UPS delivery truck lost control on I-84, near milepost 80, because of snowy roads. The truck crashed into the center divider; the driver reported a minor injury. Feb. 13, a driver on I-84 lost control on ice, overturned, and had to be extracted from the vehicle and transported to a hospital for minor injuries. Feb. 15, a Toyota Highlander left its lane of US 97 near milepost 66 and crashed into a culvert on the shoulder; driver transported for minor injuries. Feb. 16, a Corolla and a Mazda crashed on I84 near milepost 116, allegedly as the Corolla was speeding, and the Mazda rolled several times. Both drivers were transported by ambulance; the Corolla’s got three criminal citations.

Stack of trucks — And on Feb. 13, multiple vehicles crashed on I-84 at milepost 137 westbound. A white semi and trailer had lost control because of snow, crashed into the median and jack-knifed, blocking both lanes. A white Subaru slowed down for it — and got rear-ended by a purple another semi-truck. Then a red semi-truck stopped because of the obstruction, and was rear-ended by white RV and jeep. North Gilliam County Fire and Rescue responded to extract the RV’s driver from their vehicle and transport them to a hospital; one other driver complained of minor injury. The RV and first semi-truck were towed.

Body recovered — A deceased person was found in a pool of the Columbia River, near The Dalles bridge, on Feb. 17. A person walking across the bridge reported it a little before noon, and officers responded to help retrieve the body.

Overdoses — A 46-year-old passed out on Sixth Street Feb. 21, and an officer responded to administer CPR and narcan. The person became conscious. A second person also began overdosing and was given narcan and transported to an area hospital.

Engulfed in flames — Feb. 13, an eastbound Subaru Impreza lost control on I-84 because of snow, went into the oncoming lane and hit a Chevy Tahoe; the occupants got minor injuries, and exited the two vehicles before both were fully engulfed in flames.

Eight non-injury crashes — In addition to the crashes reported in each city, Oregon State troopers reported eight crashes which did not result in injuries on Feb. 13. A commercial truck from Tillamook was driving 15 mph while avoiding another crash on an icy rise of I-84, near milepost 131. Another commercial truck rear-ended it, was disabled, and got two citations. Feb. 13, a Chevrolet SUV hit an ODOT pickup truck on I-84. The ODOT truck was controlling traffic for another crash near milepost 80 eastbound. The SUV was warned for driving too fast for conditions.

Off a cliff — On Feb. 13, a trooper, Sherman County deputy and Sherman County Fire and Rescue responded to the report that a vehicle had driven off a cliff near milepost 7, Highway 30. The reporting party’s phone number was associated with a Portland-area caller who claimed to be a compromised FBI informant in danger. The person also flagged down troopers in Hood River to claim someone menaced them with a firearm, but then left. The driver was not injured, but was arrested on a warrant and charged with DUII, and given medical clearance for stimulant and depressant impairment.

Hit-and-runs — Feb. 13, a semi-truck slowed for traffic exiting I-84 into Biggs, and jackknifed because of snow and ice, pushing three sections of median into the lanes. The driver drove into Biggs without notifying anyone, later admitting they were nervous and scared, but 30 minutes later a trooper found them and issued a criminal citation for hit and run. And a car got dented in The Dalles Petco parking lot.

Prius passing — Feb. 13-21, a caller complained an eastbound Prius passed them on the shoulder of I-84, then sped through the Memaloose rest area to pass more traffic. A trooper found the vehicle near milepost 86, saw it pass a vehicle on the right, and tried to pull it over — whereupon the Prius sped up to more than 100 mph. The trooper did not pursue the vehicle, as that would’ve been unsafe, but the Sherman County Sheriff found it in Biggs Junction and tried again. The Prius again sped off and deputies pursued it for about 17 miles, until it entered Moro. Later, the Prius was found crashed on a county road. Shortly after that, the driver was found, cited and released on two charges, and admitted to a hospital for self-inflicted injuries.

OSP’s two DUIIs — In one, Feb. 13-21, a retired trooper reported an intoxicated driver nearly caused several crashes on I-84. The driver had two children with them. They also had a blood alcohol level of 0.28%, and were arrested on two charges.

Poachers get extra patrols — South Wasco County, especially the Juniper Flat area, saw increased criminal activity last week as poachers were arrested near Natural Pasture Road Feb. 22. Then on Feb. 22 an outbuilding and trailer on East Wapinita Road were “targeted in attempted break-ins,” according to Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. Extra patrols are underway, residents encouraged to secure property and use cameras.