PRPD nabs sex offender
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PILOT ROCK – Blanche Henderson Patterson, 56, is in Umatilla County Jail after Pilot Rock Police Department Corporal Daniel Badal spotted him Monday night. The department was aware that Patterson had outstanding warrants from Salem and Marion County. However, Badal said the man kept a low profile.
“He hides in his house,” Badal said adding that Patterson had only been seen late at night on occasion. The warrants were for failure to appear, criminal trespass, and giving false information to a law enforcement officer.
Badal was answering a call when he spotted the wanted man on a bicycle. Because of the nature of Patterson’s past criminal history, the Pilot Rock corporal called the Oregon State Police to request backup in case the suspect tried to fight or flee. Trooper Garrett Yunker responded and the two took Patterson into custody.
In addition to the other warrants, Patterson was also wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. In 1994, he was incarcerated for first-degree sex abuse. Badal said Patterson had not registered as a sex offender since Nov. 5, 2015. He is therefore charged with that offense locally as well as on a warrant.
(Editor’s note: Although Blanche is usually a woman’s name, we have been assured by PRPD and the Umatilla County Jail that Patterson is male.)
