21-Year-Old La Grande Man's Charges Dismissed After Haines Traffic Stop

Eithen Aaron Mackay, a 21-year-old La Grande resident, had criminal charges dismissed after his May 31, 2025 arrest in Haines following an alleged flight from a traffic stop on Highway 30 about 2.5 miles south of Haines. The outcome removes an active criminal case from the docket for now but leaves open questions for residents who travel the corridor and follow local law-enforcement actions.

Mackay was charged with reckless driving and attempting to elude police and had pleaded not guilty. On Jan. 23, 2026, the Baker County district attorney’s office filed a motion to dismiss the charges; the motion states dismissing the charges "is in the interest and furtherance of justice." "The motion didn't cite a reason." "Judge Matt Shirtcliff signed the dismissal order on Jan. 23." "The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could potentially be refiled."

Public records available at the Baker County court clerk’s office should show the motion and the signed dismissal order. The filing does not identify a stated reason for dismissal and no defense counsel comments or law-enforcement narrative about the traffic-stop events were provided with the motion. There is also no publicly noted information in the record about booking, arraignment, bail or a schedule for any subsequent hearings tied to this case.

For residents and drivers along Highway 30, the dismissal highlights two practical points. First, a dismissal without prejudice is not an acquittal; prosecutors retain the option to refile charges if new evidence or circumstances emerge. Second, the move to dismiss without explanation can fuel conversation in the community about transparency in prosecutorial decision-making and about how traffic-stop incidents are documented and reviewed.

Separate public-safety matters remain under active investigation in nearby counties. In an unrelated August incident at a La Grande motel, two men were taken into custody following a fight in which "During the incident, a handgun was discharged, though fortunately, no one was injured by gunfire," Lt. Jason Hays wrote in the release. Officers seized two handguns and collected surveillance video while investigators obtained a search warrant. "We appreciate the cooperation of the Super 8 staff and the assistance provided by the Union County Sheriff’s Office," Hays wrote. Arrested were Olisser Villarreal, 24, and Jose Diaz, 23, both facing first-degree disorderly conduct charges; the investigation is ongoing and police anticipate additional charges. Anyone with information was asked to contact "detective Garrett Jones at 541-963-1017."

Also separate from the Mackay matter, a Union County case remains active involving Dan Seulean. "Seulean has been in custody since his arrest in October 2023 in connection with a drive-by shooting." "The Union County District Attorney's Office has charged Seulean with numerous counts, including attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records. Seulean has pleaded not guilty to all changes."

What comes next in the Mackay case will depend on whether prosecutors elect to refile. Residents who want clarity can review court docket entries or request copies of the motion to dismiss and the signed order from the Baker County circuit court clerk, or contact the district attorney’s office for further explanation. For those who travel Highway 30, the episode is a reminder that court activity and traffic enforcement intersect in ways that affect road safety and public confidence, and that local records are the definitive source for how such cases progress.