April 17, 2012 -
HERMISTON, Ore. -- Hermiston Police arrested a man on Monday after he allegedly shattered windows of a church and assaulted some officers.
Police responded to Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church on Monday afternoon just before 4 PM to reports of 31-year-old Reynardo Mendoza Barrera yelling and howling.
"He was very unhappy, yelling, screaming cussing, with a non existent person," says Kay Edwards who works at the church and called police.
When officers confronted Barrera, they say he then threw a rock through a Church window and refused to cooperate. In order to gain control, officers tased Barrera, who dove through the broken Church window.
"Mr Barrera then picked up a vase filled with water and flowers and threw it at the officer through the window. The vase hit the officer in the chest and shattered into pieces," says Acting Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston.
Other officers arrived, and after two additional taser deployments, they were able to gain control of Barrera.
While being booked into the Umatilla County Jail, Barrera kicked the same officer who had been hit with the vase, in the face.
Barrera is charged with Assaulting a Public Safety Officer, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.
None of the officers were seriously injured in the incident.
"I don't know what his life circumstances are but the behavior I saw would lead me to believe that he was probably at the end of his rope and probably needs lots of prayers," says Edwards.
