PPD awaits autopsy following I-84 spree

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 5th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Police Department is working hard as it investigates the shootings and car jackings that led to the death of suspect Nicholas Russell Proudfoot of North Bend, Washington. The investigation did hit a snag with the autopsy needed to determine the exact cause of Proudfoot’s death. He said there were both jurisdictional and logistical roadblocks occurred.

“We’re getting those worked out,” he said. “Obviously, the roads haven’t helped us with getting the deceased in this incident transported to where an autopsy can occur.”

Byram said those snags appear to have been solved and he hopes the autopsy will occur soon. Meanwhile, he said the investigation itself is complex.

“It was quite a significant event,” he said. “It’s probably one of the most significant ones I’ve seen in my 20-plus year career here. It was a perfect storm. You had holiday travel. You had significant weather issues. You had law enforcement personnel issues. It’s something that I’m very proud of the way we responded to it and we’re going to continue to work it until it’s concluded.”