Grand Jury hears officer-involved shooting case today, July 12
Investigators and an Oregon State Police forensic team were on the scene of the shooting that involved three local law enforcement officials at 2914 West Sixth Street on June 18 at 11 a.m. The case will go to a grand jury on Friday, July 12 in Wasco County Circuit Court. Jurors will be asked whether the officer-involved shooting was justified.
By Tom Peterson
A grand jury is set to review the officer-involved shooting that occurred near the Astro gas station, 2914 W. Sixth Street on June 18 that resulted in the death of a 68-year-old local man.
Two sheriff’s deputies and one officer with The Dalles Police force have been on paid administrative leave since they discharged their weapons, and 68-year-old Jimmy L. Ewing, also known as August J. Law was fatally wounded.
Ewing had lived in Wishram and The Dalles, according to court records.
He died at Adventist Health Hospital in The Dalles shortly after being shot.
Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis said Oregon State Police and the Hood River Sheriff’s Office provided an investigation into the case and will be at the grand jury to provide the facts.
Locals will review the case in Wasco County Circuit Court on Friday, July 12, he said.
An Oregon State Police forensic team could be seen investigating the scene of the shooting on June 18.
“We will present evidence to the citizens of the community that are sitting on this grand jury and they will be asked to determine whether the officer-involved shooting was justified,” Ellis said this morning, July 11.
Officer Jeremy Dutton of The Dalles Police Department, an officer with 10 years of service, Wasco County Deputy Tyler Williams, an officer with six years of service, and Wasco County Deputy Joshua Augustus, who has served for 10 months, all fired on Ewing.
The Dalles Police Officers Nolan Randall and Ezequiel Pitones and Wasco County Deputy Kanyon Reams were also involved in the incident and did not fire their weapons, according to initial reports.
Ellis said his office will make public the decision of the grand jury when a decision is made, which could be as early as tomorrow, July 12.
Back on June 18, Ewing allegedly stole a boom truck from Crestline Construction yard in the Port of The Dalles and rammed through the gate of the business.
The stolen boom truck put some pretty good bends in the yard gate at Crestline Construction. The thief rammed the gate several times with the boom truck on Crates Way on June 18.
Police reported seeing the boom truck dragging a cable and noted that the driver was behaving suspiciously in the Home Depot parking lot in The Dalles.
“The Deputies attempted to stop the driver of the tow truck and the truck sped off east on west 6th Street in The Dalles. The Deputies reported aggressive driving from the tow truck driver who attempted to ram the deputies’ patrol vehicles. Officers from The Dalles Police Department (TDPD) were in the area and quickly assisted the Deputies in the incident,” according to TDPD.
“City officers also noted the driver of the suspect vehicle was attempting to use the truck to ram police cars. In the area of the 2900 block of West 6th (Astro gas station) a TD police car was rammed, heavily damaged and pushed up onto an embankment.
TD police car was rammed, heavily damaged and pushed up onto an embankment by the boom truck, according to The Dalles Police.
Officers and WCSO deputies fired on the driver while the driver directed the truck at officers and failed to yield or follow directions,” TDPD reported. “The suspect was struck by police gunfire. The injured suspect was provided immediate first aid at the scene and first responders from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue responded to give aid as well. The suspect was transported to Adventist Health Hospital in The Dalles where he later died that morning.”
Read the original stories on this incident here.
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