PENDLETON, Ore. – What started as a simple traffic violation ended with the arrest of Maurice Videll Bronson. According to a witness at the scene whose statement was corroborated by law enforcement a silver car was attempting to elude police when it came barreling up SE 6th Street from SE Byers Ave. and struck a black car that was heading westbound on SE Court Ave.
Maurice Videll Bronson was booked into the Umatilla County Jail on one count of Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, one count of Reckless Driving, one count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, one count of Interfering with a Police Officer, and one count of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver. All charges are Class A Misdemeanors aside from the attempting to elude charge. Attempting to Elude a Police Officer is a Class C Felony.
Bronson was arraigned on July 12 in Courtroom Three and appeared from the Umatilla County Jail via CCTV. Bronson says that she is supposed to be entering drug and alcohol treatment later this week and asked to be released. The reason Bronson gave for reckless driving is that her Oregon Driver’s License is suspended and that she was trying to get to a family party.
Umatilla County District Attorney Katherine Krauel-Hernberg asked that bail be set at $50,000. Krauel-Hernberg cited Bronson’s previous criminal history which includes convictions for Failure to Appear, Possession of Methamphetamine and Forgery in the First Degree. According to Krauel-Hernberg, Bronson failed to stop at a stop sign. When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, she began trying to elude Police and failed to stop at the intersection of SE 6th Street and SE Court Ave. striking a car that was headed west on SE Court Ave.
To make matters worse Krauel-Hernberg stated that after the wreck Bronson attempted to leave the scene. Judge Jon Lieuallen set bail at $50,000 and told Bronson that if she’s released she must not use intoxicants or operate a motor vehicle.
This story was modified after Bronson was arraigned on these charges July 12, 2017 at the Umatilla County Courthouse in Pendleton, Oregon.