Chief praises dog, city employee in Califf arrest
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 12th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston is crediting a dog and a passer-by with helping quell an incident involving an armed man allegedly seeking some sort of retribution at an East Gladys Avenue home he had been ordered by law to stay away from.
A Hermiston Parks and Recreation employee just happened to be in the area when the incident spilled out of the house and into the yard. Edmiston said that in the struggle, Howard Oliver Califf’s gun ended up out in the street.
“Our parks department employee really had no idea what was going on, but saw a firearm laying on the ground in the street, and kept all the parties away from it,” Edmiston said.
The other hero is man’s best friend. The victim’s large dog took two bullets while protecting its owner.
“There was one wound in the ear area through the flaps, a through-and-through, and then a grazing down the back,” Edmiston said.
The charges against Califf include attempted murder and first-degree animal abuse.
