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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*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.
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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.
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.
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).
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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02/02/2023– Water Obstruction: McKenzie River 1/4 mile downstream from the Olallie boat launch (Photo) – 02/02/23
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is advising the public of a water obstruction on the McKenzie River approximately ¼ mile downstream from Olallie boat launch.
Due to a tree down across the river, the channel is completely blocked and is not safely navigable.
For the most current information on water obstructions and safety tips, please review the information provided by the Oregon State Marine Board at www.oregon.gov/osmb
On 01/30/2023 at approximately 7:33pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about a dispute in the 11700blk of Maple Ave. in Mapleton. One caller mentioned they overheard what sounded like gunshots during the dispute.
Deputies arrived and contacted 23-year-old Steen Joseph Hardt. Hardt stated he had been in a dispute with his father and struck him in the head with a frying pan and replica firearm. Deputies found a man inside the residence with a laceration on his head consistent with being struck by an object. Deputies located evidence of the assault including a broken cast-iron frying pan and broken replica firearm. There was no evidence of a firearm being discharged during the dispute.
The victim was transported to an area hospital. Hardt was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Assault in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
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LCSO Case #23-0567 — Robbery (Photo) – 01/30/23
On 01/28/2023 at 11:29am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a robbery that occurred at a business in the 79000blk of Hwy. 99 in Saginaw. The female suspect departed southbound on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and blue cash drop bag. The suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, white tennis shoes, and a white facemask with a printed pattern on it. The female was described as being in her twenties or thirties with a thin build and standing approximately 5’3”.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
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Click It or Ticket — Lane County Sheriff’s Office — Winter 2023 (Photo) – 01/27/23
Of the 23,824 passenger vehicle occupants killed in the United States in 2020, 51% were not wearing seat belts. For drivers and front-seat passengers, using a lap and shoulder belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent in an SUV, van or pickup and by 45 percent in a car according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office, along with other agencies across Oregon will be utilizing federal grant funding to staff additional traffic safety patrols from January 30th through February 12th. Deputies will be on the lookout for improper seatbelt use and all other dangerous driving behaviors.
Please take the time to confirm that you and your children are properly restrained before setting out. Drive sober and text-free! Your lives are worth it!
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23-0348 — Search Warrant served on man accused of dealing drugs to children (Photo) – 01/24/23
Earlier this month, Lane County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information about a man that was believed to be dealing drugs to children. Detectives conducted a follow up investigation and learned that the man had been allegedly parking his RV in various locations between South Eugene High School and Roosevelt Middle School and selling various drugs to juveniles in the South Eugene area He was additionally found to have been frequenting the Amazon Skate Park.
The man was identified as 47-year-old Jeremy Lee Linville.
Detectives served a search warrant on Linville and his RV in the 600blk of E. 22nd Ave. in Eugene on January 19th. During the warrant service, Linville was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and several pounds of marijuana. A stolen firearm was also found in Linville’s RV.
Linville was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, and Delivery of MDMA within 1,000 feet of a School.
Last night deputies and Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel responded to the Willamette River near Ferry Street Bridge to assist in the search of a person in the water. Bystanders said that a man reportedly went underwater and did not resurface. Rescuers extensively searched the area but were unable to find the man.
Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel returned to the area this morning and resumed the search. The body of a deceased male was found underwater by divers shortly after 1:00pm.
The identity of the involved has not yet been determined.
For information regarding the investigation, contact the Eugene Police Department. Questions related to LCSO Search and Rescue can be directed to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
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