Two are arrested in pursuit
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, July 13th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – A Pendleton Police Department patrol officer noticed that a gray Honda Accord’s taillight and turn signals were not working as it turned into the Safeway parking lot. Police Chief Chuck Byram said that the officer did not attempt a traffic stop and just intended to alert the driver to the problem.
“As the patrol officer approached the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle took off from the parking lot at a high rate of speed, ignoring the stop sign as the vehicle entered Southwest Court Avenue heading westbound,” Byram wrote in a news release.
At that point the officer began a pursuit due to the driver’s recklessness. The driver still did not stop.
“The suspect driver of the vehicle continued on Southwest Court Avenue to Westgate where he turned eastbound,” Byram stated. “The suspect driver ignored a total of four stop lights/signs while attempting to flee. Ultimately, the driver and the passenger in the suspect vehicle abandoned the car on the 10th Street bridge, leaving the vehicle in gear where it rolled into a residential chain link fence.”
Byram said the officer saw both suspects run over the embankment to the north side of the Umatilla River. A perimeter was established and a search saw both occupants of the vehicle taken into custody.
The suspects are Edwin Roy Johnson, 58, of Pendleton and Johny Ray Johnson, 68, of Walla Walla. It is not known if they are related. Charges against them include attempt to elude in a vehicle, reckless driving, hit and run (property), and interfering with a peace officer. Byram said the residential fence received minor damage and no one involved was injured.
The case will be sent to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office.
