Police arrest man who stole utility vehicle, fled down highway
HERMISTON POLICE NEWS RELEASE -- On the 5th of June 2012 at approximately 5:25 AM, employees of the Horizon Project (located at 890 W Orchard Ave.-Hermiston) contacted the Hermiston Police Department to report Logan J. Blair, 22 years of age, as missing from the confines of the house. Employees reported Mr. Blair was under court ordered supervision though no documentation could be provided to substantiate that (at that time).
Mr. Blair is known to the Hermiston Police Department as he was arrested and lodged on May 25th, 2012 after he allegedly broke the window out at the Shell Station located at 1655 North 1st Street, Hermiston. Blair was charged with Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree on that matter.
At approximately 6:28 AM, Louis Hanson the owner of Buttercreek Equipment (located at 2110 South Hwy 395-Hermiston) called HPD to report a male had just broken into his business, stole a brand new Kubota RTV, drove the large vehicle through the front of his business, and escaped southbound on Highway 395.
Responding officers located the RTV and the driver in the area of South Highway 395 and Feedville Road. Upon trying to contact the driver later identified as Blair, two Hermiston Police Department vehicles sustained significant front-end damage as a result of impact with the RTV.
Blair was taken into custody and lodged at the Umatilla County Jail (in the dedicated City of Hermiston bed) on the following charges: two counts of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Resisting Arrest, Attempted Escape in the First Degree and Escape in the Second Degree.
The Hermiston Police Department and the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office understand the significant threat Mr. Blair poses and because of that, the District Attorney’s Office is moving on presenting the case before a grand jury today.
“It is not my intent to point fingers and place blame, but this is a prime example of a threat to society that could have been avoided with proper treatment if in fact Mr. Blair suffers from a mental health ailment. Instead, we have a business owner subjected to thousands of dollars in loss and city owned police vehicles with significant damage likely to reach several thousand dollars," said Chief Jason Edmiston.
Mr. Blair is known to the Hermiston Police Department as he was arrested and lodged on May 25th, 2012 after he allegedly broke the window out at the Shell Station located at 1655 North 1st Street, Hermiston. Blair was charged with Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree on that matter.
At approximately 6:28 AM, Louis Hanson the owner of Buttercreek Equipment (located at 2110 South Hwy 395-Hermiston) called HPD to report a male had just broken into his business, stole a brand new Kubota RTV, drove the large vehicle through the front of his business, and escaped southbound on Highway 395.
Responding officers located the RTV and the driver in the area of South Highway 395 and Feedville Road. Upon trying to contact the driver later identified as Blair, two Hermiston Police Department vehicles sustained significant front-end damage as a result of impact with the RTV.
Blair was taken into custody and lodged at the Umatilla County Jail (in the dedicated City of Hermiston bed) on the following charges: two counts of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree, Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Resisting Arrest, Attempted Escape in the First Degree and Escape in the Second Degree.
The Hermiston Police Department and the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office understand the significant threat Mr. Blair poses and because of that, the District Attorney’s Office is moving on presenting the case before a grand jury today.
“It is not my intent to point fingers and place blame, but this is a prime example of a threat to society that could have been avoided with proper treatment if in fact Mr. Blair suffers from a mental health ailment. Instead, we have a business owner subjected to thousands of dollars in loss and city owned police vehicles with significant damage likely to reach several thousand dollars," said Chief Jason Edmiston.
