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Home Invasion Robbery — Suspects posed as law enforcement officers03/07/23

Lane County Sheriff’s deputies are at the scene of a home invasion robbery that occurred this afternoon in the 24000blk of High Pass Rd. west of Junction City.

Deputies learned of this incident this afternoon at about 2:13pm when a man that was bleeding from the head arrived at the Junction City Police station.  The man stated that four males and one female had arrived at his residence, claiming to be from the Eugene Police Department serving a search warrant. 

The suspects were wearing ballistic vest carriers that read ‘police’ on them.  The suspects were wearing masks and at least one of them was wearing a badge hanging from his neck.  Several of the suspects were armed with rifles.  One of the male suspects struck the victim with the butt of a rifle.  The suspects additionally restrained the victim with zip-ties. 

The suspects are described as white males and a white female.  They were believed to be driving a gray jeep gladiator pickup, a white sedan, and a silver sedan.

This investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released as they becoming available. 

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1. 

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Luke_and_Bruno_2.jpg

23-1201 — New Lane County Sheriff’s Office K9 Team tracks and finds hiding suspect (Photo)03/06/23

On 03/01/2023 just prior to 6:00pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Gettings Creek Rest Area on Interstate 5 to assist the Springfield Police Department in locating a stalking suspect.  The suspect, 48-year-old Shawn Tull, had fled from his car and disappeared somewhere at the rest area.                                                                                                                   Deputy Luke Thomas and his K9 partner, Bruno, arrived to assist with the search.  Bruno immediately began tracking Tull’s scent past the rest area buildings, over a fence, and onto a trail through thick brush and located him hiding in thick blackberry bushes.  Tull was taken into custody without further incident. 

Deputy Thomas and Bruno are the newest K9 team at the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.  They were certified and officially began working together in the beginning of February.   

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office K9 program is funded almost entirely through donations from citizens and local businesses. These funds go directly towards purchasing the K9s, training, necessary equipment, food, medical care, and other expenses related to the care of our K9 partners. 

Information about the Lane County Sheriff K9 Team and how to donate can be found at: 

K9 Unit – Lane County

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Lane_County_Jail_Public_Tours.jpg

Lane County Jail tours open to the public (Photo)02/27/23

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to invite you to tour the Lane County Jail. 

“We have a lot of great, innovative things going on in our jail.” said Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold.  “I want our community members to see what their tax dollars support and how vital this facility is to the health and safety of our entire county.”

Tours will occur on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings starting on March 15. 

Those age 18 and over can reserve their spot at: 

www.publicsafetylevy.org/tours.

Available Tour Dates/Times:   
 

Wednesday      3/15      5:45pm

Saturday          3/18      8:45am

Wednesday      3/22      5:45pm

Wednesday      4/5        5:45pm

Saturday          4/8        8:45am

Wednesday      4/12      5:45pm

Saturday          4/15      8:45am

Saturday          4/22      8:45am

Wednesday      5/3        5:45pm

Saturday          5/13      8:45am

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23-1070_Weapon.jpg

LCSO Case #23-1070 — Man who charged deputies with knife safely taken into custody (Photo)02/24/23

This morning just after 6:30am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident in the 1500blk of Concord Ave. in Eugene stating that an unknown man had been pacing back and forth on the resident’s property.  The caller told the man to leave via their video doorbell speaker, but the man declared the property belonged to him, and he was going to start killing people. 

Deputies arrived and contacted the man, at which time he brandished a knife and charged at the deputies. The deputies quickly maneuvered to create distance but remained in verbal and visual contact.  Deputies continued conversing with the man in attempts to de-escalate him and convince him to put his knife down.  Springfield Police Officers and Oregon State Police Troopers responded while deputies were in contact.

The presence of a Springfield Police K9, use of less-than-lethal pepperball and sponge impact projectiles, and deputies’ verbal crisis intervention techniques deescalated the man’s behavior.  He eventually sat down and threw the knife out of his reach. He was then taken into custody. 

No one in the incident received serious injury.  Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold said, “This was an example of our deputies suddenly being faced with a lethal threat that could have ended tragically.  We are thankful for the quick-thinking of our deputies and the other responding officers.  We are proud of the way they quickly recognized and responded to this highly unpredictable, violent situation and possible mental health crisis. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and Oregon State Police in successfully resolving this critical incident”. 

The man was identified as 49-year-old Paul Fitzgerald Smith.  Smith was transported and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. 

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Public_Information_Session_Graphic_Lowell.jpg

Public Information Session for Proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal — Lowell (Photo)02/23/23

Public Information Session for Proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal

Lowell High School 

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

6:30PM

Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold is visiting communities within Lane County to provide information regarding the proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal, which is to be placed before voters on the May 16, 2023 ballot. 

Sheriff Harrold will be at Lowell High School (65 Pioneer St., Lowell) on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. 

Following a short presentation, the Sheriff will be available to answer questions and speak with community members. 

Passage of this measure would not increase the tax rate and renews a current local option tax. 

Measure renewal will maintain a minimum of 255 local jail beds for the five-year period, providing the Sheriff with improved ability to hold those arrested for violent felony offenses until their cases are resolved. 

Levy renewal would also:

  • maintain investment in medical mental health services within the Jail to help those in custody make positive improvements and build life skills in an effort to reduce recidivism 
  • continue to provide counseling, secure treatment, and detention services for youth offenders

Levy funds are placed in a restricted fund earmarked for the Jail and Youth Services. An annual independent financial audit of levy spending is required and presented publicly.

The estimated tax rate for this levy is $0.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Lane County homeowner is estimated to pay an average of $118 per year for five years. 

Additional information sessions will be provided by the Sheriff at different locations throughout the county in the upcoming weeks. 

Report of Armed Subject at Lane Community College – Updated02/23/23

Update 02/23/23:

Investigators have determined that yesterday’s report of an armed subject at Lane Community College was the result of a series of miscommunications prior to the initial 911 call being placed.  The miscommunications were not maliciously made and involved the passage of 2nd and 3rd hand information leading people to believe there was an armed subject at the school with intent to harm a student.  During the investigation deputies learned there were not any threats made towards the school nor was an armed subject actually observed on campus.  Once this was determined, deputies communicated the information to LCC Public Safety who lifted the lockdown as deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers helped to notify those on campus. 

The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to the safety of our community.  We are thankful for our community and professional partners that assisted with yesterday’s response and investigation.

Update 02/22/23:  

As of 3:30pm the lockdown at Lane Community College has been lifted.  

Authorities have determined there to be no credible threat.

Circumstances surrounding the initial report of an armed person on campus are under investigation.  

02/22/2023 – 2:06pm

Lane County Sheriff’s deputies are currently on scene at the LCC Main Campus after receiving the report of an armed person on campus.  

There have been no reports of shots fired or injuries.  

Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area until additional information becomes available. 

LCSO Case #23-00972 — Death Investigation at Cougar Reservoir02/22/23

On Saturday 02/18/2023 at approximately 4:22pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a man had fallen off a cliff located between the Aufderheide Hwy (USFS Rd. 19) and Cougar Reservoir, near the Terwilliger Hot Springs.  First responders arrived and were able to see the man lying motionless on the ground at the bottom of a cliff, but due to the extreme terrain, the rescuers were not able to immediately reach him.  Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel had also been enroute and upon arrival used ropes to rappel down the cliff.

The victim, a 22-year old man from the Salem area, was determined to be deceased.  His identity is being withheld at this time.

Preliminary investigation shows that the man’s fall was likely accidental. 

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LCSO Case #23-0300 — Deputies seek help identifying theft suspect (Photo)02/16/23

Surveillance Video is Viewable at:  

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Lane County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a theft investigation. The theft occurred on 01/10/2023 from the front porch of a residence in the 34000blk of Del Monte Ave. off of Seavey Loop. Rd. 

The primary suspect appears to be a white male adult in his 20’s or 30’s.  The involved vehicle appears to be a newer silver Mazda sedan. 

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1. Reference LCSO Case #23-0300.

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Crime_Scene_Logo.jpg

*UPDATE 02/16/2023* – Lon ‘Katana’ Coffey charged with additional child sex crimes (Photo)02/16/23

Correction – Spelling is: Lon ‘Katana’ Coffey

*UPDATE 02/16/2023* – Lon ‘Katana’ Coffey charged with additional child sex crimes

Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives have uncovered additional evidence indicating that Lon Curtis Coffey sexually abused other children in addition to those related to his January 20th arrest. Coffey has remained in the custody of the Lane County Jail since that arrest.   

Detectives established probable cause to believe that Coffey sexually abused a child under the age of 12.  He has been charged with the crimes of Sex Abuse in the First Degree and Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree in addition to his original charges of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse.

45-year-old Lon Curtis Coffey frequently goes by the nickname of ‘Katana’.  He has most recently lived in the Veneta, Junction City, and Albany areas. 

Investigators have reason to believe that there may be additional victims.  Please contact Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 541-682-4150 if your child has had contact with Coffey.

Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives recently received information from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that approximately 30 separate files of child pornography had been uploaded to the internet using the messaging platform ‘Kik’ from a residence in Veneta.  Detectives served a search warrant on the house and were able to develop information indicating that a former resident, 45-year-old Lon Curtis Coffey, had uploaded the images. 

Detectives additionally learned that approximately two years ago, Coffey had attempted to groom an 11-year-old girl to solicit sex. With permission from the child’s guardian, detectives used the child’s Facebook account to message with the suspect. Within two days of messaging, Coffey stated he wanted to have sex with the now 13-year-old girl and advised he would drive down to the Eugene area from Albany to meet. Detectives confronted Coffey upon his arrival and he was taken into custody.

Coffey admitted to uploading the child pornography from the house in Veneta.  He additionally advised he has been involved in child pornography for over 10 years and has exchanged thousands of files.

Please contact Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 541-682-4150 if your child has had contact with Lon Coffey.       

Public Information Session for Proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal — McKenzie High School02/14/23

Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold will be visiting communities within Lane County to provide information regarding the proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal, which is to be placed before voters on the May 16, 2023 ballot. 

The first session will be at McKenzie High School (51187 Blue River Dr.) on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. 

Following a short presentation, the Sheriff will be available to answer questions and speak with community members. 

Passage of this measure would not increase the tax rate and renews a current local option tax. 

Measure renewal will maintain a minimum of 255 local jail beds for the five-year period, providing the Sheriff with improved ability to hold those arrested for violent felony offenses until their cases are resolved. 

Levy renewal would also:

  • maintain investment in medical mental health services within the Jail to help those in custody make positive improvements and build life skills in an effort to reduce recidivism 
  • continue to provide counseling, secure treatment, and detention services for youth offenders

Levy funds are placed in a restricted fund earmarked for the Jail and Youth Services. An annual independent financial audit of levy spending is required and presented publicly.

The estimated tax rate for this levy is $0.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Lane County homeowner is estimated to pay an average of $118 per year for five years. 

Additional information sessions will be provided by the Sheriff at different locations throughout the county in the upcoming weeks. 

LCSO Case #23-0846 — Fatal Traffic Crash02/13/23

On 02/11/2023 at approximately 7:00pm, deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a single vehicle traffic crash in the 37100blk of Row River Rd, near the Row River School.  Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 1992 Toyota pickup had been traveling westbound on Row River Rd. when it failed to negotiate a curve.  The truck slid before rolling over and ejecting a passenger, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.  Intoxication does not appear to be a factor in the crash.  This investigation is ongoing and the identities of those involved are being withheld at this time. 

While deputies were investigating the crash, a 1997 Ford pickup driven by 51-year-old Richard Eugene Watkins attempted to drive through the crash scene and nearly struck a patrol car.  Deputies contacted Watkins and determined him to be under the influence of alcohol.  Watkins was arrested for DUII (LCSO Case #23-0847). 

LCSO Case #23-0682 — Arrest made in Solicitation to Commit Murder case02/08/23

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office received information on Friday, February 3rd of an attempted murder-for-hire plot. Investigator’s learned that 58-year-old John Robert Clarke had offered to pay a 3rd party an undisclosed amount of money to murder a person known to Clarke.  An extensive investigation determined probable cause to arrest Clarke for Solicitation to Commit Murder.  Clarke was taken into custody by Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives and lodged at the Lane County Jail.

This case has been referred to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.  Additional details are not available at this time. 

There is believed to be no ongoing threat to the public or victim in this case. 

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