A Umatilla man faces 10 counts of felony vandalism and more following his arrest Monday, July 8.
Umatilla County sheriff’s Capt. Paul Wolverton said Joshua Shawn Cummins, 28, went on “a bit of a rampage” July 7 and 8, breaking glass at various businesses in and around the northern section of Highway 395 in Hermiston.
According to Wolverton, vandalism hits the felony mark once there is at least $1,000 worth of damage. In this case, he said, there are numerous victims so the costs are added together. Much of this case, he said, was based on video evidence.
The sheriff’s office noted three of the five known affected businesses were auto dealerships, including Pierre Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Hermiston and City Auto Sales. Cummins mostly used rocks to break the glass of vehicles in lots as well as windows of businesses, Wolverton said, adding Cummins kicked some of the broken glass out, as well, and threw rocks at cars in the lots.
“When our deputies spoke with Mr. Cummins about the activities, we were basically told that he didn’t recall anything and that he was intoxicated,” he said. “We couldn’t necessarily say that this was him acting out against the businesses for any particular motive. We don’t have anything to indicate that.”
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s office arrested Cummins for 10 counts of first-degree criminal mischief for vandalism as well as five counts of misdemeanor trespassing and four counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief in the form of vandalism. As of July 9, Cummins remained in the county jail in Pendleton.
