Redmond man charged in DUII rollover crash
(Update: Adding police explanation of why driver was arrested by citation, not jailed)
A Redmond man faces drunken driving and other charges after a rollover crash Saturday evening on Southwest Canal Boulevard, police said. An off-duty Bend officer had called in to report and followed the speeding, reckless driver shortly before the crash, officers added.
Redmond police were informed around 5:30 p.m. that an off-duty Bend police officer had spotted a pickup truck going more than 80 mph and crossing into oncoming traffic, Redmond police Sgt. April Huey said.
The officer kept dispatchers updated as the driver, later identified as Yosef Alfonso Valdivia-Perez, 24, headed north on Highway 97, turned onto Southwest 61st Street and then Canal Boulevard south of Redmond, Huey said.
Redmond police, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police troopers also responded to the area.
After entering Redmond and passing Ridgeview High School, the gray 2017 Toyota Tacoma veered off the road near South Heights Avenue and Southwest Canal Boulevard, rolling several times and coming to rest on a frontage road that runs parallel to Canal Boulevard, near several homes, Huey said.
The two people occupying the pickup were evaluated by medics but declined transport to the hospital, she said.
Valdivia-Perez was arrested on charges of DUII-alcohol, reckless driving and criminal mischief. Huey said he was taken to the Redmond police headquarters and later issued a citation to appear in court.
Huey noted it was one of six DUII arrests made by Redmond police during the five days of the Deschutes County Fair.
“Fair week in Redmond is a busy time for businesses, families and law enforcement,” she wrote in a news release.Poor decisions by individuals can put the life (and) safety of many others at risk. Please do not drive after becoming impaired on alcohol, marijuana or any other substance.”
“Impaired drivers are killing people every day!” she added. “Please call your local law enforcement agency or 1-800-24-DRUNK in Oregon to report suspected DUII drivers.”
Asked why the driver was cited and not jailed, Redmond Police Lt. Curtis Chambers offered this explanation to NewsChannel 21:
“Nearly all DUIl arrests by the Redmond Police Department result in a citation to appear in court and not jail. The Redmond Police Department has the ability to process DUII offenders at the police department, which saves us well over an hour to two hours of time at the jail. This results in a more speedy processing time and allows for officers to return to work (in a) more timely (fashion).
“Oregon law allows for a citation to appear in court for misdemeanors and some felony violations. In this case, the suspect was arrested for misdemeanors only.
“Additionally, the Redmond Police Department is aware of the booking criteria which is the DCSO jail maintains, and as a result, we were aware the suspect would be required to be seen by a medical doctor at the hospital prior to acceptance at the jail. Even though the suspect was cleared by medics at the scene, this requirement would have remained and added to the time the officer remained out of service.”
