Hermiston Man Arrested in Elgin, Faces Attempted Murder Charge

A Hermiston man was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with attempted murder following Sunday’s pursuit in Union County where shots were exchanged between the suspect and the Oregon State Police.

On Tuesday at 8:38 a.m., a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office contacted an individual sitting along Highway 82 outside of Elgin. The individual, Demus Montez, 36, of Hermiston, was later confirmed to be the suspect still at large from Sunday’s pursuit and Officer Involved Shooting incident. Montez was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the OSP.

Montez was charged with attempted murder, first-degree attempted robbery, eluding on foot, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, first-degree criminal mischief and reckless endangering.

The incident began Sunday when Union County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a business, Bullseye Muzzleloaders and More, located in Island City for the report of a business burglary. Law enforcement later cleared the scene, but less than two hours later enforcement was summoned to the same business as the reporting party was describing three people wearing gloves and masks approaching the business.

While law enforcement was responding to the scene, an employee of the business confronted the suspects and shots were fired. The vehicle fled the scene and sheriff’s deputies immediately located and started pursuing the vehicle.

During the pursuit, occupants in the suspect vehicle fired rounds at the pursuing law enforcement vehicles, disabling one patrol vehicle. An Oregon State Police trooper set up a spike strip deployment and upon learning of the active shooting situation, he fired his gun as they came by his location. The vehicle continued and troopers were able to successfully spike the vehicle, which ultimately came to a stop on Indian Creek Road near Rinehart Lane.

According to the OSP, the three suspects fled from the vehicle into the dense brush and vegetation. As a result, additional law enforcement was called to the scene and a perimeter was set up. Two suspects were arrested, but Montez got away – until Tuesday morning.

The two suspects arrested Sunday, Ashtin Clay Romine, 26, of Clarkston, Wash., and Jessica Lyn Spalinger, 31, of Walla Walla, Wash., were taken to the Union County Jail and charged with first-degree assault, reckless driving and fleeing or attempting to elude.

The La Grande Police Department will be conducting the Officer Involved Shooting investigation. The Oregon State trooper involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave per department policy pending the outcome of the investigation.

The OSP said this is an active investigation by the La Grande Police Department, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police.  Once the investigation is complete it will be turned over to the Union County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with further information on this investigation is asked to call the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677). Reference case number SP22181738.