Deputies of the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office were providing extra patrol over the Fourth of July Weekend and arrested four drivers on charges of DUII over the four-day event, and 27 other drivers were cited/warned for traffic violations.
At about 4:15 p.m. on July 1, Deputy Nathan Rankin observed a red Toyota Prius park in the area of Canal Road and Diagonal Road outside of Hermiston. He recognized the vehicle as one that had been reported to be involved in recent drug activity. He contacted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Jared Patterson, 26, of Hermiston. During the contact, Deputy Rankin discovered Patterson was in possession of what appeared to be methamphetamine and heroin. Deputy Rankin also observed that Patterson was under the influence of controlled substances and had been operating the vehicle while impaired. Patterson was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of heroin, resisting arrest, and DUII ‐ controlled substances.
At about 9:35 p.m. on July 1, Rankin responded to a motor vehicle crash on Diagonal Road near Baxter Road outside of Hermiston. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Daniel Loftus, 54, of Hermiston, exhibited signs of impairment. The investigation ultimately led to Loftus’ arrest for DUII and reckless driving. Loftus refused to take a breath test. Loftus was charged with DUII ‐ alcohol, reckless driving, making an unlawful turn, open container of alcohol, and breath test refusal.
At about 10:35 p.m. on July 1, Deputy Trevor Limburg observed a vehicle pull out of the parking lot of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center onto Airport Road without stopping. He contacted the driver, Jose Alfredo Orozco, 27, of Hermiston. Limburg observed several signs that Orozco was impaired and arrested Orozco, whose blood alcohol level (BAC) was .03%. Even though his BAC was below the per‐se limit of .08%, Orozco was still too impaired to have been driving and was charged with DUII.
At about 10:25 p.m. on July 2, Limburg observed a car with a broken tail light driving on Highway 730 near Highway 37, east of Umatilla. He contacted the driver, Christine Faye Spence, 39. She exhibited signs of alcohol and drug impairment and was arrested for DUII. Spence’s BAC was .03%. She refused to undergo a drug influence evaluation or provide a urine sample. Spence had three minor children in the car with her when she was stopped. Spence was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, DUII – alcohol/controlled substances, and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.
