PPD has a busy holiday weekend
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton police were busy over the Memorial Day weekend, answering more than 200 calls. Police Chief Chuck Byram said the two calls that stood out the most were a car theft and vandals cutting tires.
Byram said that a woman was carrying bags into a room at Best Western when a man offered to help. The woman put her keys down on the car and finished with the man’s help. Later, her car was missing. And Byram said it was believed Johnny Lee Roe, 31, of Pendleton had pocketed the keys and drove off with the vehicle. He added that Roe is a relative newcomer who is already well known to local police.
“I really don’t know where he came from, but the timing probably speaks for itself,” Byram said. “He showed up at the end of January, and we’ve already arrested him six times.”
Police found the vehicle abandoned on Interstate 84 westbound, but a search of the scene didn’t turn up the suspect. He was located a little later walking along Westgate and was taken into custody.
People around the 100 block of Northwest Sixth Street got a rude awakening Sunday when they found that one or more suspects went on a spree slashing tires.
“We have between 10 to 15 vehicles that were victimized by these unknown suspects,” Byram said.
Officers are seeking help from area residents who might have captured images of those responsible. The slashings are thought to have occurred overnight. He urged anyone with any information to call PPD at 541-276-4411.
