La Grande woman arrested after tying herself to a pickup, mid traffic stop

LA GRANDE – Misty Dawn Dean (40) of La Grande was recently arrested by the Oregon State Police following a traffic stop and subsequent one person protest. The traffic stop occurred on Sunday, June 16, at approximately 5:17 p.m. near the intersection of Island Avenue and Walton Road in La Grande. The full OSP description of the incident is as follows:

“On the above mentioned date and time, I stopped a black Dodge pickup whom I knew the driver to be Driving While Suspended-Violation. During the traffic stop, I informed the driver I would be towing the pickup. The driver then grabbed a rope from the bed of the pickup and tied it to the front bumper, hood, and then placed it around her neck while she laid on the hood of the pickup. I advised the driver if she did not get off the hood, she would be arrested for Obstructing Governmental Administration.

After multiple attempts to get her to remove, I was going to cut the rope and she freed herself. She was told she was under arrest and immediately pressed her arms to her chest and anchored her body against the bed of the truck. She was advised she would also be charged for resisting if she didn’t free her arms. She did not. Eventually, the driver was taken into custody and transported to the Union County Correctional Facility without further incident. Fenn’s Towing removed the vehicle.”

Dean’s charges, as listed in the OSP press log, included Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resist Arrest.