On Saturday morning, Oct. 28, Trennon Ray Smith, of Veneta, Ore., was arrested by law enforcement. He is currently booked and lodged at Harney County Jail and charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree burglary, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, reckless driving, recklessly endangering, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief, and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

According to law enforcement, a call came in to 911 at approximately 5:48 Saturday morning, reporting that an armed man broke into a residence on West Pierce and shot at them. The family barricaded themselves. The suspect then stole a 2017 Ford Edge from the house.

When law enforcement arrived, they discovered a white Toyota crashed at North Saginaw and Hines Boulevard, and that David Brinkley, 66, had been hit by the suspect’s vehicle. Brinkley was pronounced deceased.

Law enforcement chased Smith who was headed toward the Burns Department of Motor Vehicles. The subject crashed into a fence and was forced to turn around in a field. He then headed back toward downtown. A spike strip was laid down, and all four tires were spiked. At approximately 6:43 a.m., law enforcement performed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver on the vehicle at Highway 20 and North Grand. Police deployed their taser, and Smith was taken into custody at approximately 6:45 a.m.

The Harney County Sheriff’s Office stated, “As a result of the ongoing investigation of criminal activity that occurred in the early morning hours of October 28, 2023, a bicyclist was found deceased. The deceased has been identified as David Brinkley, who’s next of kin has been notified. Cause of death is under investigation.

Law enforcement is asking for help from all business owners and citizens who may have surveillance video footage of a white Toyota Tundra with a white canopy and/or a white 2017 Ford Edge driving in the areas of Hines Boulevard to Saginaw and Highway 20 from Shell gas station to South Date in Burns during the early morning hours of October 28, 2023.

If you have any information regarding the above, please contact Harney County Dispatch at 541-573-6156.”

The suspect, Trennon Ray Smith, was arrested in September of 2022 and charged with reckless burning and two counts of first-degree arson. Smith pleaded guilty to attempting to start two wildfires in Curry County, where he was sentenced to one year in prison.