HPD makes gun arrests
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Hermiston police officers responded to a report of four people acting suspicious Tuesday night in the 1000 block of Southwest 11th Street and found two of the suspects armed with ghost guns. Jerry Ortega, 22, and David Estrada, 18, were in possession of 9mm unregulated, non-serialized, untraceable ghost guns.
The two men from Hermiston were carrying their guns concealed, which is against the law without a permit. They were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and jailed.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said that while there is no law prohibiting ghost guns in Oregon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit is. Generally, ghost guns are purchased in parts and assembled to avoid background checks.
Edmiston added that area law enforcement has had numerous contacts with Ortega and Estrada and has conferred with federal law enforcement about them.
