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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 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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!
Original Article: Source