Fleeing from police makes it worse
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – A Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office deputy initiated a traffic stop Saturday on a car with expired registration on East Punkin Center Road near Northeast 10th Street in the Hermiston area. The driver would not stop and attempted to elude.
UCSO Capt. Sterrin Ward said that when the deputy pursued the suspect, the driver stopped suddenly in front of a home in the 31000 block of Cecil Street and tried to exit the vehicle. The deputy took him into custody. At first the man gave a false name and date of birth.
The investigation that ensued resulted in the man being identified as Ronald Lee Johnson, 65. He had two outstanding warrants. One was a Umatilla County Circuit Court case involving four counts second-degree theft. The second was a felony warrant from the Oregon State Parole Board for violating parole.
He is now also charged with felony attempting to elude as well as reckless driving and giving false information.
