Date:            January 20, 2021

Topic:           Fraudulent ID & Mail Theft Arrests

From:            Neal Holste, Chief of Police

For Release:  Immediately

On January 16, 2021 a Hood River Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on Mt. Adams Ave. near Cascade Ave.  The driver, Joseph Chumley, 42, of Battle Ground, WA failed to provide the Officer with any form of identification.  When Chumley gave the Officer his real name it was discovered he had arrest warrants in both Clackamas and Multnomah County.  After locating a fraudulent driver’s license inside Chumley’s wallet, the Officers on scene began investigating further and speaking with the passengers in the vehicle.  The investigation led Officers to a hotel room at the Best Western the occupants of the vehicle had rented.  Inside the hotel room Officers found dozens of fraudulent multi-state driver’s licenses and identifications, fraudulent social security cards, fraudulent and stolen checks, a computer and printer machine used to create the fraudulent identification.  Thousands of stolen pieces of mail were also located.  Joseph Chumley, along with Jensine Chumley, 37, of Battle Ground WA, Cameron Lodahl, 32, of Longview WA and Stephanie Primley, 30, of Vancouver WA were booked and lodged at NORCOR on charges of Identity Theft, Forgery and Mail Theft.  This investigation is ongoing.  The Hood River Police Department is working with the United States Postal Inspection Service to return the stolen mail.