Police find car in Snake River
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Thursday, September 11, 2008 11:16 AM PDT
Ontario — The Ontario Police Department responded to a stolen vehicle submerged in the Snake River at a state park near the north Interchange Monday morning.
Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said the 1999 Isuzu was stolen from Wholesale Auto Sales, situated at 14 N. Oregon St., Ontario, either late Sunday night or early Monday morning. The thieves broke into the establishment and stole vehicle keys, a stereo and computer equipment.
Police located the vehicle, which had not been reported stolen, near a boat ramp at the state park at 7 a.m Monday. Alexander said he believed the thieves released the Isuzu from the boat ramp into the Snake River below.
Another vehicle stolen from the auto dealer turned up in Payette, though Alexander did not have any further information about where it was discovered at press time.
OPD currently has no suspects or leads in the incidents. OPD also responded to a call about Denver man they said was intoxicated and picking fights with customers at an Ontario Denny’s at 3:15 a.m. Friday. Arthur Lucerio, 29, was arrested and issued citations for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after he punched and rammed into a glass door with his head, causing an estimated $400 worth of damage.
OPD also arrested an Ontario man for a probation violation warrant stemming from a weapons charge at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Nicholas Grove, 21, was taken into custody from his home in the 1000 block of Southwest Fifth Ave. Alexander said while Grove was being transported, he tried to free himself from his handcuffs and in attempting to do so, damaged the cuffs.
The Ontario Police Department also reported a hit-and-run incident after a reported drunk driver crashed into an Ontario School District 8C School District fence Sept 3. Alexander said Benito Vasquez, 31, Ontario, was driving a 1987 Ford Escort when he hit a fence surrounding nearby school bus sheds, situated near the intersection of Northwest Sixth Street and Northwest Seventh Avenue, causing $500 worth of damage at 11:15 p.m. He and his passenger, Margaret Wilson, 26, Payette, were then seen running away from the vehicle by a nearby witness. An officer located the two in the 500 block of Northwest Fifth Street.
Vasquez was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to perform the duties of a driver involved in a crash, criminal mischief in the second degree, driving while uninsured and driving while suspended. Alexander said Vasquez was also on probation, with his probation officer signing a detainer for him.
Wilson was issued a citation for failure to perform the duties of a witness to a crash.
OPD also responded to a case of graffiti after a Pizza Hut employee, who works at the establishment situated at 1275 SW Fourth Avenue in Ontario reported a tagging. The employee, Alexander said, reported three people, who the employee believed to be juveniles, spraying the establishment at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday.
“They took off running,” Alexander said of the reported taggers. “Officers searched the area and were unable to locate them.”
Thursday morning marked another tagging, this one at the High Desert Dental office, situated at 271 SW 13th Street in Ontario.
“I assume it may be related,” Alexander said.
In Vale public safety news:
The Malheur County Sherrif’s Office responded to a report of a suspicious SUV stopped in the middle of Stateline Road south of Adrian at 10:40 p.m. Sept. 5.
Undersherrif Brian Wolfe said the deputy on the scene discovered Juan Miranda, 39, Adrian intoxicated in the vehicle.
“He was just staring into the distance,” Wolfe said. “He was found to be under the influence of intoxicants.”
Wolfe said Miranda was able to communicate with the deputy and was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and failure to submit to a breathalyzer.
