Chief addresses social media post
By Terry Murry on Friday, May 21st, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – A woman who took to Facebook to claim her 17-year-old son was traumatized by police who were charging him with felony hit and run has prompted Chief Jason Edmiston to speak out.
“It used to amaze me what people put on social media,” Edmiston said. “It doesn’t anymore.”
Traffic cameras showed the driver leaving the scene after he was struck by another vehicle. Edmiston said there is evidence the teenager should have known to stay put.
“One of the additional factors in our investigations is driving history to include two additional at-fault crashes involving the driver that did not stop at the scene,” Edmiston said.
The young man was detained when he stopped at Burger King, interviewed by police, and released to his parents after being charged with failing to perform the duties of a driver, which is a misdemeanor. The person posting on Facebook wondered why the police wasted their time chasing down h er son instead of finding the driver who actually caused the crash and also fled.
“This accusation that the other driver fled as well is ridiculous,” Edmiston said. “That driver pulled over. That driver was identified as a 54-year-old female who lives here in Hermiston.”
Editor’s note: My Columbia Basin was tagged in the original Facebook post. We contacted Chief Edmiston and his response is what prompted this story.
