Ex-Portland police chief challenges E. Oregon indictment

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The former Portland police chief who resigned after he was indicted for shooting a friend during an off-duty trip is challenging the negligent wounding charge as unconstitutionally vague.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://goo.gl/xuFbHy ) former chief Larry O’Dea’s lawyer Derek Ashton appeared on behalf of O’Dea in Harney County Circuit Court Friday, the day set for O’Dea’s arraignment.

Instead of the arraignment, the lawyer filed a legal challenge, arguing the negligent wounding statute is too open-ended and that pretrial evidence doesn’t explain how O’Dea allegedly acted negligently.

The 54-year-old former chief is accused of “failing to use ordinary care” in shooting and wounding Robert Dempsey April 21. The men were camping in Harney County and shooting at ground squirrels when the incident happened.

The judge gave the state until Dec. 11 to reply to O’Dea’s legal challenge of the indictment.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com