PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two deputies and one officer have been cleared of wrongdoing related to a fatal shooting in The Dalles last month.
The grand jury found that Wasco County Sheriff's Deputies Tyler Williams and Joshua August and The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremiah Dutton were justified in their deadly use of force and didn't break any laws when they shot a suspect who later died of his injuries. This all happened after the suspect allegedly rammed a police car and attempted to ram other law enforcement vehicles on June 18.
According to the Wasco County District Attorney's Office, 68-year-old August Law had been taken to the Mid Columbia Medical Center where he died from his wounds after being shot by law enforcement members. This all happened after Law led a chase that involved him allegedly ramming a police car and attempting to ram other law enforcement vehicles at various times after he had stolen a large commercial boom truck.
Law was driving the 13.5-ton vehicle without lights and dragging a tow cable that ignited sparks on the road. When deputies attempted a traffic stop on Chenowith Loop Road, "Law attempted to run their marked Sheriff’s [cars] off the road," officials said.
The suspect then cut through a Home Depot Parking lot, was pursued by two officers "in a marked Dalles City Police car" and then Law "attempted to ram their vehicle."
"Law then led a chase eastbound on W 6th Street, pursued by the two law enforcement vehicles," the DA's office said.
Officer Nolan Randall then responded in a marked police car, after which "Law moved the boom truck into the oncoming lane of traffic, directed at Randall's vehicle."
"Officer Randall turned into the Astro parking lot to avoid the truck. Law then turned into the Astro lot loop, pursuing Randall. Law rammed Randall’s vehicle, spinning it, and exited the Astro parking lot."
After that, the suspect then drove the boom truck in the direction of the deputy vehicle for Williams and Augustus and The Dalles police car occupied by Dutton and Ezequiel Pitones.
"With the Boom Truck approaching them, Williams, Augustus, and Dutton jumped out of their vehicles and opened fire," the DA's office said. "Deputy [Kanyon] Reams had been in pursuit, heading westbound, behind Randall. Following the shots, the boom truck came to a stop and the deputies and officers were able to detain Law."
Reams performed emergency aid on Law and stayed with him as medics arrived. However, the suspect later died in the hospital.
Deputies Reams and The Dalles City Police Officers Randall and Pitones were on the scene when the shooting happened but they did not discharge their firearms.
