The Dalles, Ore. — Authorities in Oregon have cleared two deputies and a police officer of any wrongdoing following a fatal shooting in The Dalles last month. A grand jury ruled that their actions were justified, stating the law enforcement members followed legal protocols during an intense confrontation that ended with the death of a 68-year-old man.
The individual who was killed, August Law, allegedly engaged in dangerous conduct including ramming a police vehicle and attempting to assault other law enforcement vehicles with a stolen 13.5-ton boom truck. The incident, which occurred on June 18, escalated quickly according to officials.
The Wasco County District Attorney’s Office provided a detailed sequence of events leading up to the shooting. Law reportedly drove the heavy vehicle with its lights off late at night, causing sparks by dragging a tow cable across the road. When deputies attempted to pull him over on Chenowith Loop Road, Law aggressively maneuvered the vehicle to try and push the sheriff cars off the road.
The pursuit intensified as Law cut through a Home Depot parking lot. Two officers in a marked Dalles City Police car followed him into the lot after he attempted to ram their vehicle. The chase continued onto W 6th Street, with Law directing the truck towards incoming traffic aimed at another responding officer’s vehicle.
In an attempt to evade the rampaging truck, Officer Nolan Randall drove into a nearby parking lot. Tragically, Law pursued him there, eventually ramming Randall’s car, which sent it spinning before Law fled the area.
Ultimately, Law drove the boom truck directly towards Deputy Tyler Williams, Deputy Joshua Augustus, and Officer Jeremiah Dutton of The Dalles City Police. In response, the officers, fearing for their lives, discharged their weapons at the truck. The vehicle stopped, and Law was detained but not before one more officer, Deputy Kanyon Reams, arrived on the scene.
Despite immediate emergency aid provided by Reams, Law succumbed to his injuries after being transported to Mid Columbia Medical Center. He died there from wounds inflicted during the confrontation.
Notably, while the grand jury’s decision clears the officers and deputies who fired their weapons, it highlights the perilous nature of such encounters. Deputy Reams, along with Officers Randy Pitones and Nolan Randall, who were also at the scene, did not fire their weapons but witnessed the deadly escalation.
This tragic incident underscores the complexities and dangers law enforcement personnel face, highlighting the split-second decisions made during life-threatening situations. It also serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for ongoing training and public safety measures designed to safeguard both the community and its officers. Such scenarios contribute to the broader discussion on the use of force and the continuous evaluation of law enforcement protocols in similar high-stakes incidents.