Separate, Unrelated Arrests in La Grande for Trespassing and Menacing
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – The La Grande Police Department responded to two separate incidents during the final weekend of April, both resulting in an arrest.
The first incident occurred on April 28. According to the LGPD, officers responded to the Royal Motor Inn at 12:02 A.M. for a report of an individual threatening an employee with a knife. The man, identified as 54-year-old Kole Orndorff of Florence, Oregon, had been asked to leave the property by an employee. Orndorff immediately became aggressive, refused to leave, brandished the knife, and threatened to kill the employee. When police arrived, Orndorff was attempting to leave the property and was quickly detained. He was later arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Menacing and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The investigation is still ongoing.
The second incident occurred on April 29. According to the LGPD, officers responded to a segment of railroad tracks near Greenwood Street for multiple reports of a naked man walking down the tracks. Officers quickly located the man, Justin J Ransford (transient), who is known to suffer from a mental health disorder and attempted to render assistance. Ransford immediately became uncooperative and combative to officers and was placed under arrest. Ransford further resisted arrest and attempted to fight the officers but was taken into custody with no injury to himself or the officers. In total, Ransford was charged with Criminal Trespass 1, Disorderly Conduct 2 and Resisting Arrest. The LGPD noted that they have had multiple contacts with Ransford in the past.
