PPD solves the case of the holes in the windows
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton police arrested Michael R. Hirst, 48, of Orem, Utah for several misdemeanors Tuesday morning. He has been ordered to appear in Pendleton Municipal Court for at least criminal mischief charges and one criminal trespass charge.
Police Chief Chuck Byram said that it all started when an employee for Umatilla County reported a broken window at the maintenance building at 515 S.E. Dorion Ave. The investigating officer noted a hole approximately the size of a fist in a window with blood left on the glass. No entry appeared to have been made.
Then, at 7:05 a.m., a person from Blue Mountain Creations, 412 S. Main St., reported their video surveillance system captured an unknown individual accessing the roof at about 11:30 p.m. Monday and never coming down. Officers responded and located a broken window to the upstairs of the business with footprints leading inside.
That’s when they found Hirst. Further investigation prompted charges to include the county maintenance window break.
Meanwhile, while Hirst was in custody, PPD took a report from Eastern Oregon Business Source, 245 S.E. Fourth St. An employee found a single pane of a double-pane window broken on the door. That brought more charges.
Byram said the suspect told police he was not from the area and was looking for shelter from the cold.
“He reported that he had to leave the Warming Shelter due to an altercation that he had there the night before,” Byram said.
