Redmond DUII hit-and-run leads to 5 arrests

(Update: Adding video, more details; correcting lead, suspects not all family members)

Five Redmond residents were arrested following an alleged drunken-driving hit-and-run incident over the weekend – the driver and four friends and family members who showed up at the scene, leading to a scuffle and videos shared widely online, claiming police misconduct.

Police responded shortly before 5 p.m. to the area of Northwest 12th Street and Sprucewood Court after Deschutes County 911 dispatchers received reports of a possible DUII driver hitting a fence, nearly hitting a small child, and a dispute between the child’s parent and the driver’s family members, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

Responding officers found the suspect vehicle, a black pickup truck, but the driver, identified as Brett Blake, 39, failed to stop for the officer and nearly rear-ended another driver, eventually stopping in an alley near 12th Street and Sprucewood Court, Chambers said.

A DUII investigation led to Blake’s arrest on charges of DUII alcohol, hit-and-run (failure to perform the duties of a driver in a crash – property damage), reckless driving and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

During the investigation, Chambers said, four friends and family members approached officers near the scene. Officers then tried to arrest one of them for menacing, related to the hit-and-run and the child nearly being struck.

“During the attempted arrest, a physical dispute occurred,” Chambers said, leading to minor injuries to two officers, including bumps on the head and scratches on the arms.

Police said the three teens began to harass the person who reported the crash. When officers tried to arrest them for menacing, another woman started filming the scene.

Four people: Marlana Blake, 40; Lorence Ortega, 19; Kameron Leisek, 19; and Cash Reese, 18, were arrested on charges of interfering with a police officer, the lieutenant said. Ortega, Leisek and Reese also are charged with menacing and resisting arrest.

Videos that were shared widely showed three young men ending up on the ground, amid profanity-laced allegations of police misconduct.

Chambers said Blake was not taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend, as he would not meet their acceptance criteria, due to his impairment level. Because he was too intoxicated for self-release, the lieutenant said he was instead taken to St. Charles Redmond and released to their staff. The four others were jailed and later released.One of the young men arrested told NewsChannel 21 he and his friends were trying to give officers details on the DUII they witnessed when police escalated the situation.

Police said Marlana Blake, who was recording video, was arrested for getting too close to the officers during the dispute. However, they noted that it is not illegal for citizens to film police activity. They also said police are not obligated to inform people of the reason for their arrest until the process is completed.

“All responses to resistance and aggression incidents are reviewed by Redmond Police command staff to ensure the response used was lawful and within policy,” Chambers said in a news release.

“The review of this incident has just begun,” the lieutenant added. “All information will be sent to the district attorney’s office for review and a charging decision.” He also said officer video of the incident wouldn’t be released by Redmond police at this time.

“In the last five years, from 2014 to 2018 the Redmond Police Department has arrested more than 16 thousand people for various crimes,” Chambers said. “Only 137 of those, less than 1%, have resulted in a use of force incident.”

“The Redmond Police Department holds itself to the highest standards of law enforcement.” Chambers wrote. “We value the trust our community members place in us to keep our community safe.”