Wallowa County man in custody for ax assault

Published 12:30 pm Monday, May 25, 2020

Enterprise Police Officer Kevin McQuead checks the contents of Phillip Evans' pockets as Chief Joel Fish looks on before securing Evans in a Wallowa County sheriff's vehicle. 

ENTERPRISE — Enterprise police Sunday night arrested a man for allegedly using an ax to assault his roommate.

Michael Zanello suffered serious injuries in the attack, and police arrested Phillip Evans for the assault.

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The attack came to light when a family driving past Video Buffs on West North Street noticed Zanello bent over and staggering down the street toward Safeway. The family stopped to provide help, and then called 911.

Enterprise police, the Wallowa County sheriff and the Wallowa Memorial Hospital ambulance arrived minutes later.

Zanello, who was bleeding from multiple wounds, told officers his roommate, Evans attacked him with an ax.

Wallowa Memorial Ambulance took Zanello to the Wallowa hospital, where an emergency helicopter flew him to a Boise hospital, according to Enterprise Chief Joel Fish, who did not disclose the extent of Zanello’s injuries.

Enterprise police and Wallowa County sheriff’s deputies went to Evan’s nearby rental house on North Street, where at about 9 p.m. the team of law enforcement officers broke down the deadbolt-locked front door, entered the building and emerged with Evans in handcuffs about 10 minutes later.

Fish also said he requested the Oregon State Police Crime Lab assist in the investigation. The crime lab team’s work started Monday about 6 a.m.

Wupp Winn, owner of Video Buffs, said he had heard the call on police radio while at a graduation party.

“They said it was at Video Buff,” he said, “and my first thought was whether all my employees were OK. But we close at 7 on Sunday, so it seemed they were all right. I came down here to see if I could help.”

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