Suspected shoplifter faces child neglect charges

PENDLETON – A report of a shoplifter at Walmart in Pendleton led to the discovery of unattended children, and additional charges for the subject.

Pendleton police received a report of an adult male shoplifter at 6:20 p.m. on Friday, who had just left Walmart in a newer white SUV with Washington license plates. Shortly after, officers arrived in the area and located the vehicle in the Safeway parking lot. They verified the suspect’s identity using Walmart’s video surveillance. Officers then learned from the suspect that he was watching his girlfriend’s two small children while she was out of town and had left them unattended in a locked bedroom at her apartment.

Officers immediately went to the apartment and observed a 3-year-old child staring out of a third-floor window. They entered the apartment through an unsecured front door and went to the bedroom where after making entry, discovered the 3 year old and a 1 year old. The youngest child was located on the top bunk of a bunk bed with a soiled diaper.

After contacting the mother and consulting with the Department of Human Services-Child Welfare the children were placed with relatives until the mother returned home.

Adam Tippel, 34, of Vancouver, Washington was booked into the Umatilla County jail on one count each of felony criminal mistreatment and misdemeanor child neglect, as well as two counts of misdemeanor theft. It was also discovered that Tippel had a warrant out of Washington County.

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