DUI suspect damages headstones at cemetery
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
COLLEGE PLACE — A Milton-Freewater man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after witnesses notified the College Place Police Department that he had driven onto the grounds of Mt. Hope Cemetery, 700 Suncrest Terrace, exited a vehicle and started to stagger around the property.
When officers arrived, they made contact with Mark Medina, 67, and noticed his vehicle had left the roadway and struck multiple headstones.
Based on observations of the vehicle and additional evidence on scene, it appears as if Medina may have struck additional objects. At this time, CPPD has not been notified of other victims or been able to locate any additional damage in the nearby area.
Medina was taken into custody and booked into the Walla Walla County Jail on charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, and hit and run.
Mt. Hope Cemetery management was contacted and arrived on scene to observe damages and work on making proper notifications to family members of the damaged headstones.
