Yakima Police Arrest Man After He Rams Deputy Breaks into Homes

Dec 08, 2023

A dramatic arrest of a wanted suspect on Wednesday in Yakima after a report of a burglary in progress. Yakima County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the burglary in the 5600 block of North Fork Road west of Tampico. When deputies arrived they contacted the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Jo Ortega-Merritt. Deputies tried to detain him and used a taser but the suspect fled.

Deputies say Ortega-Merritt then jumped onto a motorcycle and rammed a Yakima County Sheriff's Traffic Deputy riding his motorcycle.The Deputy was briefly trapped under his cycle after the crash but was not injured. The suspect then fled the scene eventually getting off the motorcycle and jumping into a waiting vehicle in the area.

Yakima Police Officers then started to chase the suspect vehicle in the west valley before it crashed in the area of 72nd Avenue and Mead.The driver and the suspect then jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. The female driver was arrested but Ortega-Merritt, the suspect kept running and tried to break into several homes in the area to hide. He was eventually taken into custody on numerous charges.He's sitting in the Yakima County jail Today.

According to a press release from the Yakima County Sheriff's Office authorities say 39-year-old Jo Ortega-Merritt was wanted on several felony warrants for a "property crime spree" in Oregon and Washington as well as probation violations.The 32-year-old female driver, identified as 32-year-old Heather Estes was arrested on felony warrants from Oregon.No injuries were reported in the incident.

Report a typo or correction

Got a news tip? Email us here.