Two people arrested after crashing stolen vehicle
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, November 10th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – On Wednesday afternoon, a Pendleton Police Department patrol officer observed a silver 2015 Honda Accord in the area of Stillman Park. The officer recognized the vehicle as being a confirmed stolen vehicle from a case being investigated by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Department from earlier in the day. Before the officer could turn around on the vehicle, it fled the area.
While officers were looking for the vehicle and its occupant(s), an officer sitting up on NE Ellis Place spotted it coming into town from Lee Street. The officer was quite a distance from the vehicle when he spotted it. The driver of the stolen Honda apparently observed the officer’s patrol vehicle and sped into town at a high rate of speed. The patrol officer did not pursue due to the distance he was away from the vehicle and the time of day (12:33 p.m.)
Shortly after the vehicle sped off, dispatch received a report of a motor vehicle collision in the area of SE Court Avenue and SE Eighth Street. It was reported that a Honda passenger car ran into a pickup truck on SE Court Avenue near SE Eighth Street causing both vehicles to run into St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The occupants of the Honda passenger car fled the scene while being chased by onlookers.
Officers, who were near-by arrived within seconds and were able to take both occupants of the stolen Honda into custody. The driver was determined to be Seth Jokinen, 42, of Pendleton. The passenger in the stolen vehicle was identified as Erica J. Kidwell, 29, of Hermiston. Jokinen sustained a laceration as a result of the vehicle collision. He was transported to St. Anthony Hospital where his injury was treated before he was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail for unauthorized use of a vehicle, hit and run-injury, and numerous felony warrants. Kidwell was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail for unauthorized use of a vehicle. Chief Chuck Byram said additional charges could be pending the completion of the investigation. No other persons were injured as a result of the incident. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.
