PPD chalks up Pinkham’s 45th arrest
By Terry Murry on Thursday, December 1st, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – Ethan A. Pinkham, 38, of Umatilla was arrested for the 45th time by area law enforcement Wednesday. Pendleton Police Chief Charles Byram said the arrests occurred in various jurisdictions throughout the area.
It all began with an attempted traffic stop at 9:27 a.m., when Detective Chase Addleman, PPD’s street/property crimes detective, was working a targeted enforcement area in uniform and in a marked patrol car in the area of Southgate and Interstate 84. He noticed an older model tan Honda Accord that was not displaying registration.
“Once Detective Addleman attempted to make the stop, the driver took off at a high rate of speed onto I-84 westbound,” Byram reported. “Detective Addleman and another patrol unit engaged in a pursuit of the tan Honda.”
Byram said that the driver got off the interstate at Exit 199 and attempted to lose the officers by driving through seeded wheat fields.
“The suspect vehicle ultimately became stuck after crashing into a fence,” Byram wrote.
Pinkham, whose speeds reached 100 miles per hour during the pursuit, was taken into custody and lodged at Umatilla County Jail. He is charged with attempting to elude in a vehicle, reckless driving, first-degree criminal mischief for the damage to the farmer’s field and fence, and a misdemeanor warrant on failure to appear in another case.
No injuries were reported and the vehicle was towed from the field. PPD is forwarding the case to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
