Man arrested for string of crimes from western Washington to La Grande
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton police have arrested the man they believe robbed a convenience store in Umatilla. Police Chief Chuck Byram said that surveillance video shows the resemblance of Palekasala Taupau with the Umatilla robber.
The suspect also committed crimes in Pendleton and La Grande on Friday, following the first incident. Byram said a woman had left her car running at Sinclair to make a quick trip into the store. Taupau is accused of stealing her red Dodge Durango.
The suspect got away, but apparently made a stop in La Grande.
“Her Durango is in the wind,” Byram said. “Then, a couple of hours later, we learned that the city of La Grande had a call that a red Dodge Durango was driving through a store parking lot and the driver actually stole a cell phone from a lady.”
It didn’t stop there.
“Fast forward a couple of hours later back in Pendleton,” Byram said. “A lady sitting in the Catholic church parking lot, has an individual walk up to her open window, reach in, snatch her purse, and take off in a red Dodge Durango.”
Byram said the Oregon State Police helped locate the vehicle and Lt. Tony Nelson took Taupau into custody at milepost 206 of Interstate 84.
“A gun was taken out of the vehicle that was actually stolen out of western Washington,” Byram said. “Other jurisdictions from western Washington all the way to La Grande are going to want to talk to this individual.”
Taupau, 21, is in Umatilla County Jail on a felony fugitive warrant. He is also charged with first-degree robbery and third-degree theft. His bail is set at $250,000.
