Wheat Truck wrecks in Gilliam County; three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 97 on Dec. 3
Wheat Truck wrecks in Gilliam County; three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 97 on Dec. 3
TD Sex offender eludes police after hitting utility pole near Cascade Locks
“The Trooper was able to see the passenger and identified him as the subject who had the warrant. The Trooper activated his emergency lights, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in reverse. While the truck turned around, it backed into a utility pole and continued down the access road at a high rate of speed.”
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 18, 2024 — Oregon State Police are still looking for a man from The Dalles after Troopers tried to arrest him near Cascade Locks and he backed into a utility pole before speeding away on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Waylon Willie Looney, 38, of The Dalles who is wanted for failing to comply with his sex offender requirements, is wanted on a felony warrant, according to the Oregon State Police Log.
Troopers who were tracking Looney on foot reported locating him at a trailer at Old Columbia River Highway and Wa Na Pa Street at around 7 a.m.
“Troopers were on foot and observed a white Ford pickup leaving the trailer where the suspect was known to be staying at. As the vehicle was leaving on the access road the driver observed a marked patrol vehicle at the top in the parking lot and started to back down the road,” the report states.
“The Trooper was able to see the passenger and identified him as the subject who had the warrant. The Trooper activated his emergency lights, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in reverse. While the truck turned around, it backed into a utility pole and continued down the access road at a high rate of speed.”
Troopers did not pursue the vehicle.
The vehicle was later located partially blocking the road and both the driver and passenger had fled on foot. The vehicle was towed by Rivers Edge Towing with a hold placed on the vehicle until the driver can be identified.
“There is probable cause to arrest the driver once identified for felony elude vehicle, reckless driving, fail to perform duties of a driver, elude on foot and hindering prosecution,” the log stated.
Stolen Fish & Wildlife Camera reveals alleged illegal fish takes on Eagle Creek
But what appears to be the most egregious case was that of an alleged illegal fish take on Eagle Creek near the Columbia River which was verified after police located a stolen Fish & Wildlife camera taken from the area on Sept. 26, according to the Oregon State Police log.
Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 4, 2024 — It was a rough weekend for wildlife as the Oregon State Police stopped multiple illegal takes including 8 waterfowl, 4 trout and 5 steelhead, several Salmon and even responded to a minivan that struck a deer on Interstate 84.
But what appears to be the most egregious case was that of an alleged illegal fish take on Eagle Creek near the Columbia River which was verified after police located a stolen Fish & Wildlife camera taken from the area on Sept. 26, according to the Oregon State Police log.
“The last GPS location of the stolen camera led to a residence in the Portland area. The investigation then led to digital pictures and video evidence being provided of a male subject removing the cable-locked camera from a tree,” the report says.
“Additional video evidence shows the subject unlawfully take two Salmon and or Steelhead from the mouth of Eagle Creek. The subject is not a licensed angler within Oregon. One video recording captured the same subject snagging and then killing what appeared to be a Steelhead. Witness statements reported the same subject unlawfully took five or six Salmon and or Steelhead during this incident in total. The subject who stole the camera and unlawfully took the fish is avoiding law enforcement contact and not returning calls,” the report states.
Sylvestr Fortuna, 38, of Portland was arrested acccording to the report and Daniel Herman, 28, of Vancouver is a suspect in the case
Charges of second-degree theft, take/ possession of foul-hooked fish, fishing without a license, fishing for salmon without a harvest tag and fishing without a North Columbia River endorsement have been forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney.
Trooper cites 29-year-old for shooting decoy in White River Unit
Two criminal citations were ultimately issued for Take/Poss. of Buck Deer - Wildlife Enforcement Decoy. Closed season, and Hunting with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle. An additional violation citation was issued for an open container of alcohol.
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 28, 2024 — Fish and Wildlife Troopers with the Oregon State Police ran a Buck Deer operation in the White River Unit using a decoy.
During the operation, a vehicle stopped at the set on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9:19 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle shot the “Wildlife Enforcement Decoy” while sitting in his driver’s seat and shooting out the passenger window, according to the OSP report.
A senior Fish and Wildlife Trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and conducted an investigation. Two criminal citations were ultimately issued for Take/Poss. of Buck Deer - Wildlife Enforcement Decoy. Closed season, and Hunting with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle. An additional violation citation was issued for an open container of alcohol.
A small caliber rifle was seized as evidence.
Oregon State Police provide Fish and Wildlife enforcement for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Map of the White River Unit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Equinox burns, cow dies on Hwy. 197 near Dufur
A Chevrolet Equinox burned to its frame on Highway 197 Near Tygh Ridge Road south of Dufur at around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday night, according to Oregon State Police. The cow died.
The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 26. 2024 — A Chevrolet Equinox burned to its frame on Highway 197 Near Tygh Ridge Road south of Dufur at around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday night, according to Oregon State Police.
The cow died.
“Wasco County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a cow in the roadway near the above location,” according to the police report.
The Sheriff’s log states the complaint about the cow in the road was made at 11:04 p.m.
“A 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was traveling northbound, struck the cow, and caught fire. The Chevrolet burned down to the frame.”
“The cow was found deceased upon law enforcement's arrival. The three adult occupants received minor injuries and were transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital.
The Chevrolet was towed due to damage by Barnett’s Towing. The driver was provided contact information for the cow owner and landowner where the cow came from. OSP was assisted by Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Dufur Fire & EMS.
The report lists Nathan C Filbin, 45, as the property owner.
Fatal Crash on Hwy. 197 in Wasco County Claims One Life, Injures Two
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 6:58 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 197 near milepost 9 in Wasco County.
From Oregon State Police:
Wasco County, Ore. 23 August 2024 — On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 6:58 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 197 near milepost 9 in Wasco County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a maroon Dodge Ram, operated by Randall Donn Marshall (77) or Wamic, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 197 when it left its travel lane for an unknown reason and struck a white Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Joshua Merle Thompson (45) of Tygh Valley, head-on.
The operator of the Chevrolet (Thompson) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Dodge (Marshall) was transported by LifeFlight for serious injuries. The passenger of the Dodge was transported by ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries.
The highway was impacted for four hours. The investigation is ongoing.
Oregon State Police was assisted by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Dufur Volunteer Fire Department, LifeFlight, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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Cascade Man seriously injured in I-5 fatal near Woodburn on Thursday
A Cascade Locks man was seriously injured in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Woodburn that resulted in one fatality on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 5:26 a.m., according to Oregon State Police.
The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 23, 2024 — A Cascade Locks man was seriously injured in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Woodburn that resulted in one fatality on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 5:26 a.m., according to Oregon State Police.
The wreck occurred near milepost 277.
“The preliminary investigation indicated a black Volkswagen Golf, operated by Christopher Lee Connely, 35, of Cascade Locks, was traveling northbound on I-5 behind a maroon Dodge Ram operated by Robert Allen Morton, 59, of Salem, according to the press release.
“For an unknown reason, the Volkswagen rear-ended the Dodge pickup truck at highway speeds, causing the Dodge to lose control and spin across the travel lanes. A silver Nissan Altima, operated by Julia Cesar Garcia, 30, of Albany, traveling behind the Volkswagen and Dodge, could not avoid the crash and collided with the Dodge.
Both the Dodge and Volkswagen continued across the cable barrier into the southbound lanes of I-5. A silver Ford Ranger, operated by Kenneth Lee Whelchel, 31, of Dallas, traveling southbound, was struck. The Ranger's operator lost control, crashed into the barrier, and came to a stop about one-quarter mile down the highway.
The operator of the Ford Ranger (Whelchel) was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Volkswagen (Connely) was transported to an area hospital by LifeFlight with serious injuries.
The Dodge (Morton) and Nissan (Garcia) operators sustained minor injuries and were not transported by medics.
The highway was impacted for six hours for the on-scene investigation.
Pasco Man killed when motorcyle drives off Hwy. 19 in Gilliam County near Olex
The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by James Nicholas Braithwaite, 58, of Pasco left the roadway for unknown reasons and went down a steep embankment.
Map of approximate location where crash occurred.
From Oregon State Police:
Gilliam County, Ore., May 28, 2024 — Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy-19, near milepost 17, in Gilliam County on Friday, May 24 at 3:36 p.m.
The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by James Nicholas Braithwaite, 58, of Pasco left the roadway for unknown reasons and went down a steep embankment.
The Braithwaite was declared deceased at the scene.
The highway was impacted for approximately an hour during the on-scene investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office, North Gilliam County Fire and Rescue, and ODOT.
