Hermiston police located and arrested a man they had been looking for since last Monday, but not a scuffle with officers.
On Friday, April 6, police officers executed a search warrant on Jacob Arthur McKeever’s vehicle, which had been impounded earlier in the week. During that search, officers found tools and other property they believe were stolen during local thefts.
On Sunday, April 8, at around 10 a.m., the Hermiston Police Department received a tip that McKeever was in the 200 block of S.W. 11th Street. Officers responded to that location, took McKeever into custody without incident, and drove him to the Hermiston Police Department for processing.
While being escorted through the police station parking lot, McKeever allegedly tried to escape and pulled away from the officers on more than one occasion. Despite being handcuffed, McKeever struggled with the officers and had to be taken to the ground to prevent his escape and further escalation of the situation. Officers sustained minor scrapes and abrasions during the struggle.
After processing, McKeever was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail on unrelated warrants as well as attempting to elude a police officer, possession of burglar’s tools, first-degree theft, resisting arrest, and attempted escape.
Those charges stem from the incident on Monday, April 2, when McKeever, 29, fled on foot after an officer attempted to pull him over for a vehicle lighting violation. According to Lt. Randy Studebaker, the McKeever was driving a burgundy Mercury van registered in his name. When the van was near the intersection of N.E. Fifth Street and E. Gladys Avenue, McKeever ditched the van and took off on foot.
Studebaker said the van was full of property that he suspects was stolen. McKeever is wanted on both local and Idaho warrants for drug-related offenses.
