Tribal Police arrest wanted felon on Reservation

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department officers arrested a wanted felon out of Washington state and his female companion on Wednesday, Sept. 9, after a chase up Grand Ronde Road and on to Agency Creek Road on the Tribal Reservation.

Tribal Police Chief Al LaChance said the department received information that 29-year-old Christopher Loren Burril was seen in the Grand Ronde area.

Sgt. Jake McKnight attempted to stop Burril, who was driving a 1999 Ford Expedition, on Grand Ronde Road near the intersection with Andy Riggs Road. However, Burril took off and a chase ensued west on Andy Riggs Road, northbound on Fire Hall Road, east on Highway 18 and north on Grand Ronde Road and on to Agency Creek Road, where Burril’s vehicle ran out of fuel.

Both Burril and a female passenger, 22-year-old Shawna Diane Scott, fled on foot. Scott was arrested quickly and Burril was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. by Grand Ronde Police Officers Patrick McConnell and Rod McAllister.

Burril was taken to the Polk County Jail in Dallas, where he was held on a charge of felon in possession of a weapon and on a courtesy hold for Washington state for failure to register as a sex offender.

The Washington Department of Corrections issued a warrant for Burril’s arrest on April 16, 2015, for failure to register as a felony sex offender. He was previously convicted of sex crimes in Clark County.

LaChance said Burril is looking at a minimum of 10 years in prison when he is returned to Washington state.

Scott was taken to the Yamhill County Jail in McMinnville, where she was held on a probation/parole sanction.

The incident prompted Interim General Manager David Fullerton to send out e-mail warnings beginning at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday that the Tribal Police Department was pursuing an individual wanted on felony charges.

Fullerton also sent out an e-mail at 7:16 p.m. that included a mugshot of Burril. “Again, please use caution and consider this individual armed and dangerous,” Fullerton said.

“Different agencies have been looking for him for nine months,” LaChance said, adding that Burril likely had been living in the Grand Ronde area for more than a year.

Burril also has had previous run-ins with the police in Polk, Yamhill and Marion counties in Oregon, including unlawful use of a vehicle, attempt to elude and fourth-degree assault, among other charges.