Sauvie faces felony charges
By Terry Murry on Friday, October 11th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Joshua Sauvie, 25, a transient is in Umatilla County Jail facing multiple charges including assault of an officer and first-degree theft. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said it began with an incident on Monday morning and ended with the suspect’s arrest on Wednesday.
Police were called when CAPECO was conducting a homeless assessment with Sauvie. He reportedly became irate, took a laptop from a desk, walked outside and smashed it on the ground. The laptop was valued at $1,387. The suspect was gone upon arrival. Charges of first-degree theft and first-degree criminal mischief stemmed from that incident and he was added to the trespass list.
On Wednesday afternoon, officers located Sauvie waling on West Hermiston Avenue. When approached, he attempted to flee. Edmiston said an officer grabbed Sauvie by the coat and informed him he was under arrest.
“Sauvie pulled away and swung at the officer, punching the officer in the face,” the chief stated. “Sauvie slipped and fell to the ground where he was drive stunned (with a Taser) as he would not obey commands to place his hands beside his back.”
Edmiston said Sauvie was taken into custody and transported to HPD for processing.
“While taking Sauvie out of the patrol vehicle, he spit on the officer’s face,” Edmiston said.
He was lodged at Umatilla County Jail for charges in both cases.
Edmiston said that Sauvie has been arrested 39 times with nearly all of those cases occurring on the east end of the county. The chief has placed a “mandatory lodge” order at the jail for any time an HPD officer encounters and arrests Sauvie.
“Clearly his choices in life need some guidance,” Edmiston said.
In addition to a number of charges from Monday and Wednesday, Sauvie is also being held on two failure-to-appear warrants.
