Two Washington men are in custody and a third person remains at large following an incident in eastern Oregon on Sunday in which shots were fired between suspects and law enforcement.
On Sunday at 12:43 p.m., 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 for 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.
The Northeast Oregon Regional SWAT Team and the Oregon State Police SWAT Team responded to the area and ultimately located and arrested two suspects in the late evening hours.
The third suspect is still at large. The Union County Sheriff’s Office, the La Grande Police Department, and the Oregon State Police are continuing their investigation into the initial burglary as well as the officer involved shooting and more charges and arrests are anticipated.
The suspects, 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.
Law enforcement was assisted on the scene by members of the La Grande Fire Department, Imbler Quick Response, and the Union County Office of Emergency Management.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to call the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677). Reference case number SP22181738.
