Rock-hurling hitchhiker arrested for damaging vehicles and motel in Baker County
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY — Law enforcement patrolling Baker County and Baker City had their hands full recently with a series of unusual incidents involving a California woman who made quite the impression on Interstate 84 and later in Baker.
Just after 12:00pm on July 5, 35-year-old Courtney Lyn Battaglieri of Eureka, California, was spotted attempting to hitchhike near milepost 340 near Huntington. Reports flooded in of a woman yelling and running onto the freeway, causing a major disruption for eastbound traffic. Battaglieri’s antics escalated quickly as she allegedly tried to hit a motorist with a 2×4 and later hurled a rock at another vehicle.
Oregon State Police located Battaglieri near milepost 344, where she was taken into custody without further incident. She was booked at the Baker County Jail on a charge of second-degree disorderly conduct and then released per jail policy.
However, Battaglieri’s day was far from over. Around 7:30pm, Baker City Police were called to the Sunridge Inn following reports of a woman throwing a rock through a window and causing other damage at the motel. The suspect was identified as none other than Battaglieri.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Baker City officers arrived at the scene to find Battaglieri walking toward the swimming pool. Despite commands to stop, she continued walking. Witnesses reported that Battaglieri had also thrown a rock at a 2024 Subaru Outback, cracking the windshield and causing an estimated $1,025 in damage. The motel window sustained an additional $700 in damage.
Battaglieri was arrested for a second time that day and remained in custody at the Baker County Jail as of Tuesday, July 9. She now faces multiple charges, including first-, second-, and third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespassing, and third-degree escape for failing to comply with police commands.
