Five parents will be cited on a charge of failing to supervise a minor following what the Hermiston Police chief is calling a “brutal” attack by five juveniles Thursday afternoon.
According to HPD Chief Jason Edmiston, officers responded at around 12:15 p.m. to a report of a fight on the 100 block of E. Highland Avenue. Medics and officers found the victim, an 18-year-old male, who was allegedly beaten by five juveniles – three males and two females ranging in age from 14-16.
According to Edmiston, the five suspects asked the victim to buy “controlled substances” for them. When the victim, who did not know the juveniles, refused, the juveniles allegedly assaulted him and then fled on foot but were quickly caught by responding officers in the immediate area. Four of the juveniles were lodged in the juvenile detention center in Walla Walla. Edmiston says the fifth juvenile will likely be charged today.
Edmiston said the victim, whose name is being withheld while officers continue their investigation, was taken to the hospital. The extent of his injuries is unknown, but Edmiston said medics reported that his head was “swelling right before their eyes.”
The police chief also was taken aback by the “absolute lack of respect displayed by each of these youth while here at the police department.” Edmiston said they were “hooting and hollering, laughing, and making racial slurs, and acting like entitled thugs.” Edmiston said in a Facebook post that this is a “trend our officers are seeing more and more and could be a sign of how these children were raised.”
Citing parents for failing to supervise a minor is not a frequent occurrence for the HPD. The department has issued 13 such citations between 2018 and 2022. Edmiston said by the end of this investigation, the department will have issued six so far this year.
Edmiston said the assault was captured on video which will be provided to the district attorney’s office. The four juveniles lodged in the detention center were charged with third-degree assault and Edmiston anticipates adding the charge of riot, a felony, due to the number of people involved.
It’s about time someone be held accountable for the behavior of minors. The path some of these young people are taking is terrifying.
Worthless thugs. Parents should be prosecuted. Victim deserves to be compensated with money confiscated from parents of thugs. Hoping victim is able to recover.
Parents AND children should be prosecuted here. I have never left this comment here before
Same kids who were terrorizing the Hermiston Plaza in recent months, perhaps?
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