Two incidents involving firearms reported during Round-Up week
By Terry Murry on Monday, September 20th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – In spite of a relatively well-behaved crowd in Pendleton during Round-Up week, Police Chief Chuck Byram reports there were two significant cases his officers dealt with during the rodeo, both involving firearms. One involved a juvenile on Wednesday, and the other saw five arrested on Saturday.
In an email release, Byram writes:
On September 15, 2021 a Pendleton Police Department patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on a silver 2001 Audi passenger car in the 100 block of SW 1st Street for a traffic violation. During the contact with the 17-year-old driver (sole occupant), the officer detected the odor of both marijuana and alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. While conducting the investigation into the possession of alcohol and marijuana by a minor, the officer discovered that the juvenile was in possession of a loaded handgun. Due to no felony crimes being committed, the juvenile was cited and released to his guardian. The handgun, alcohol and marijuana were seized as evidence.
On September 18, 2021, a Pendleton Police Department patrol officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver 2000 Nissan Pathfinder in the 1900 block of SE Court Avenue for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to the officer’s emergency lights and drove into the 500 block of SE 19th Street where the occupants of the vehicle fled into a nearby residence. Ultimately, the occupants of the residence tried to flee, but were captured after a brief foot pursuit. A total of five individuals were detained. During the course of the investigation, officers discovered a loaded .22 caliber handgun in a backpack. Additionally, an AR-15 was located. The AR-15 was confirmed stolen from an earlier case reported to Pendleton Police Department personnel. In that case, the victim reported that his AR-15 was stolen from his vehicle in Pendleton. Additional controlled substance contraband was also recovered. Pendleton Police Department personnel is continuing the investigation into the two firearms. All five occupants were arrested on probation violation warrants and lodged at the Umatilla County Jail. Arrested were:
Bryson S. Azure, 26-years-old, Pilot Rock address, 23 arrests in our area
Ricky L. Ellison, 34-years-old, Elgin address, 6 arrests in our area
Vicky Goodman, 54-years-old, Pendleton address, 4 arrests in our area
Lawrence Thomas Picard Jr., 29-years-old, Pendleton address, 6 arrests in our area
Gabriel B. Rodriguez, 38-years-old, Walla Walla address, 1 arrest in our area.
