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UMATILLA -- Investigators are trying to figure out who drove a large farm tractor through a Umatilla Chemical Depot fence and why.
The driver abandoned the tractor after it went through the fence Sunday night and has not been caught, authorities said.
Depot spokesman Bruce Henrickson said the FBI responded, but depot security and the Umatilla County sheriff are handling the investigation, according to The Associated Press.
Officials say the tractor did not get near the depot's chemical weapons storage area.
No damage was done to chemical munitions of the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. The facility is not currently processing chemical agent, officials said.
Suspicious activity in and around the depot should be reported to the local police department or the depot at 541-564-8632.
West Richland man faces harassment charges
WEST RICHLAND -- A 20-year-old West Richland man was arrested after repeatedly harassing an ex-girlfriend in violation of a no-contact order, authorities said.
Matthew Craig Bowman is accused of sending repeated text messages, posting comments on websites like Facebook and making multiple calls to his ex, said West Richland Police Chief Layne Erdman.
The 17-year-old tried to convince Bowman to stop contacting her, then got a no-contact order Nov. 6, Erdman said.
After Bowman continued to contact her, she called police and he was arrested.
Investigators noted one instance of 15 contacts, another one of 42 contacts in two hours and yet another of 93 different contacts in three hours, Erdman said.
Bowman was booked Friday into the Benton County jail on suspicion of stalking.
Pasco man charged with making indecent liberties
PASCO -- A 44-year-old Pasco man was arrested Friday after allegedly making inappropriate advances at a woman he met at a bar.
Willie Lee Webster made a preliminary appearance Monday in Franklin County District Court, where he was charged with attempted indecent liberties. He's expected back in court again on Thursday.
Webster was arrested by Pasco police at Joey's Restaurant & Bar, said Capt. Jim Raymond.
He is accused of making advances at a woman at the bar, then displaying a knife and threatening her when she turned him down, Raymond said.
Webster, the brother of convicted rapist David Webster, is being held in the Franklin County jail.
Hermiston restaurant worker held in fast food robbery
HERMISTON -- An assistant manager at a Hermiston fast-food joint has been arrested in connection with an early-morning robbery at the restaurant Nov. 2.
Tammy Beth Surberg, 40, of Umatilla, was the on-duty assistant manager on the day that robbers forced their way into the Jack in the Box and stole $1,000 cash, authorities said.
She was one of two employees working at the time. No one was injured.
Surberg was arrested Sunday at her Umatilla home after being indicted by a Umatilla grand jury, said Hermiston police Lt. Tim Beinert.
She was booked into the Umatilla County jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and criminal conspiracy.
Michael Roy Albert Zellmer, 23, of Stanfield, also was arrested after being found at an Irrigon home by Morrow County sheriff's deputies. He was jailed on the same charges.
Two others, Lisa Williams, 43, of Irrigon, and Travis Anthony Baker Vetter, 22, of Hermiston,were arrested last week in connection with the robbery.
A fifth suspect is being sought and is expected to be arrested soon, Beinert said.
* Paula Horton: 509-582-1556; phorton@tricityherald.com
