A Hermiston man was arrested on several assault charges after refusing to leave a marijuana grow operation near Hermiston.
On Wednesday, two Umatilla County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a driving complaint and assault on N. Highway 395 where a marijuana grow operation was located.
The deputies found that Michael Alan Parker, 57, from Hermiston, allegedly assaulted two men at the location and also tried to run them over with his vehicle.
According to the property owner, Parker was not welcome on the property and was told to leave several times, but refused. The assault victims reported that Parker started fighting with them and warned them that they would need guns to keep him away.
According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Parker reportedly went to his vehicle and then tried to run over one of the victims, but hit a fence and became stuck. The victims reported that Parker ran away, and they left the property to call the police. When they returned, they found that several window were broken out of their motor homes and several marijuana plants were damaged.
Earlier in the day, police escorted Parker from a marijuana retail store in Pendleton after he caused a disturbance.
Parker was arrested for second-degree attempted assault, fourth-degree assault, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and and two counts of menacing. He was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail. The case is under further investigation.
