Police investigating another possible drive-by shooting
Incident occurred a week ago on Alameda Drive
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:52 AM PDT
Vale — The Ontario Police Department is still investigating a “reverse drive-by” that occurred a week ago.
Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee said July 10 Criselda Gonzales, 22, Ontario, reported as she was driving by an apartment complex situated at 833 Alameda Drive, her gold Mercury Sable received incoming fire at 11:59 p.m.
Officers reported to the area and interviewed female juveniles in the area who said the noises were from firecrackers.
“The officer didn’t believe them,” Kee said.
At 1:03 a.m., Gonzales crashed her vehicle into a Radio Shack situated at 203 East Lane in Ontario causing extensive damage, though Kee did not have an exact monetary figure at press time.
According to police, Gonzales said she crashed her car into another vehicle in an attempt to end a conversation regarding retaliation for the previous gunplay.
Kee also said Gonzales may be charged with injuring a person in the other vehicle.
“There is a good chance she will be charged with assault for that,” he said.
As for the shooting, officers are searching for a 17-year-old male whom they believe fired the weapon. Kee offered no further details about the shell casings found at the scene, citing an ongoing investigation.
“We talked to witnesses and got a very good description, which included a name,” he said.
Police have not been able to find the 17-year-old.
“We want to hear his side of the story,” Kee said.
Police also arrested a Huntington man after he and a 17-year-old allegedly stole two cases of alcohol from a local gas station Monday.
Joseph Cumbie, 18, was arrested after police said he stole two cases of Bud Light from a Shell station situated at 1320 S.W. Fourth St. in Ontario at 3:26 a.m.
The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women Sunday near East Island Road in Ontario after one of the females was found to be in violation of a restraining order.
Stacie Stewart, 38, Fruitland, was discovered to be fishing with former girlfriend Cheryl Spurlock, 42, Ontario. Stewart was granted a restraining order against Spurlock after she asserted Spurlock hit her with a stapler in October 2007.
“These two had a relationship,” Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said. “Things started going sour in the relationship in 2007.”
Malheur County Sheriff’s Office deputies then arrested Spurlock for being in violation of the restraining order.
“If the officer found them together, they must make an arrest,” Norris said.
Stewart was then arrested on an Ontario Municipal Justice Court warrant.
Sheriff’s deputies also arrested a Nyssa man on Heritage Drive outside of Nyssa at 1:21 p.m. Sunday.
Casey Hansen, 37, was contacted at his residence regarding a warrant stemming from driving under the influence. Deputies also arrested a Vale man in a traffic stop, after he was seen by a resident on U.S. Highway 20 and reported to be driving under the influence at 5:55 p.m. Saturday. MCSO deputies stopped and then arrested Ronald Page, 59, on A Street in Vale for driving under the influence.
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