On the evening of 04/06/2023 shortly prior to midnight, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the Eugene/Springfield Fire Department with a combative male at a residence in the 88400blk of Fisher Rd. Family members of the involved male had advised that he was extremely intoxicated. They said he can be combative when intoxicated and needed to go to the hospital. As deputies were enroute, it was learned that the involved male had been previously arrested for menacing with a knife.
Deputies arrived on scene and contacted the male at the residence. The male was holding what appeared to be a firearm in one of his hands. A deputy told the male multiple times to drop the weapon. The male then raised the weapon and advanced towards the deputy at which time the deputy fired his firearm, striking the male.
Deputies immediately called for assistance and began administering life-saving measures. Despite these efforts, the male did not survive.
The weapon that the male had raised was discovered to be a realistic-looking pellet gun designed to resemble a handgun.
No deputies or medical personnel were physically injured during the incident. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on traumatic event leave as is standard protocol in deadly force incidents. The Lane County Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team responded and is investigating the incident. This team is comprised of investigators from numerous outside agencies and overseen by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.
The Lane County District Attorney’s Office will release additional details as they become available.
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LCSO Case #23-1764 — Stolen Backhoe Recovered West of Eugene (Photo) – 04/04/23
On 04/03/2023 shortly prior to 8:00am the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ken Nielsen Rd. near the W. 11th Ave. intersection after receiving information that a backhoe had been abandoned there. Deputies arrived and learned that the backhoe belonged to Wildish and had been stolen overnight from a jobsite near the intersection of Roosevelt Blvd. and Beltline Rd.
The backhoe was badly stuck in the mud and it appeared that the thief tried to use the rear arm to pull on nearby railroad tracks in an effort to get unstuck.
A very large tow truck was required to get the backhoe out of the mud. Port of Coos Bay Railroad also had to dispatch a track inspector to ensure that the rail line had not been compromised and was still safe for rail operations.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
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LCSO Case #23-1702 — Menacing with a Firearm (Photo) – 04/03/23
Correction – This call took place on Saturday morning shortly prior to 8:00am.
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On 04/01/2023 shortly after 7:00pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the reports of shots fired at a residence in the 8900blk of Rustic Ln, a rural area north of Florence. A call taker could hear gunshots being fired in the background as the 911 call was received.
The person calling 911 reported that an intoxicated male, later identified as 64-year-old David Paul Williams, was shooting a gun inside of the house. He had also pointed the gun at the caller multiple times. The caller was able to flee from the residence and seek refuge at a neighbor’s house.
Deputies were able to surround the involved location and observe from a distance that Williams was still inside. They contacted him by telephone at which time he surrendered to them without further incident.
He was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Reckless Endangering.
We would like to thank the Oregon State Police and Florence Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
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LCSO Case #23-1702: Theft Suspect Arrested After Refusing to Exit Home (Photo) – 03/30/23
On 03/29/2023 just before 2:00pm the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a theft that occurred at a construction site in the 90200blk of Coburg Rd. A construction crew advised that as they returned to their worksite they observed a Mitsubishi car speed away. The workers then discovered that thousands of dollars’ worth of tools had been stolen. Workers had been able to note the license plate number on the car.
Deputies identified the suspects as 34-year-old Trevor Lee Hendricks and 31-year-old Jessica Marie Jackson. Hendricks was also found to have a warrant for his arrest out of Eugene Municipal Court.
Deputies responded to the suspect’s residence in the 2800blk of Matt Dr. in Eugene and attempted to make contact with them. Jackson was cooperative with deputies, but Hendricks remained inside the residence and refused to come out. Deputies, including K9 Ripp and his handler Deputy Chris Gardner, entered the residence. Hendricks finally surrendered when he learned that K9 Ripp would be assisting in the search for him.
Hendricks was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail for his outstanding warrant and a new charge of Theft in the 1st Degree. Jackson was issued a citation in lieu of custody for Theft in the 1st Degree. Deputies were able to recover the tools stolen from the construction site.
Measure 20-340
www.publicsafetylevy.org
Public Information Sessions for Proposed Lane County Public Safety Levy Renewal
Week of April 2 – 8, 2023.
Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold will be available for questions related to the proposed Lane County Jail Levy Renewal (Measure 20-340) at the following locations next week:
- Monday, April 3 at 6:00PM – Goldson Grange & Community Center (23479 Hwy. 36, Cheshire, OR)
- Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30PM – Walterville Grange & Community Center (39259 Camp Creek Rd., Springfield, OR)
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.
Lane County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant shortly before 9:00am this morning at a residence in the 1500blk of Adelman Lp. in Eugene pursuant to a robbery investigation they are conducting.
The Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team initially responded to assist with the warrant as there was information to believe that the suspects could be armed and dangerous.
Deputies are still processing the scene and the investigation is ongoing. One person was detained for questioning without incident. More information will be released as it becomes available.
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Lane County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Applicants for Cadet Program (Photo) – 03/20/23
Interested in serving your community and learning more about a career in law enforcement?
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program is for young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who have an interest in law enforcement. The Cadet Program provides an opportunity to get first-hand experience working in the criminal justice field. Cadets are able to develop skills and knowledge in order to prepare for full-time employment in a very important and fulfilling career.
Requirements:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be between 18 and 21 years of age
- Must be enrolled in high school / GED program, or have a high school diploma / GED
Cadets Will:
- Participate in law enforcement ride-alongs
- Receive training in law enforcement procedures, legal issues, use of force, corrections operations and patrol operations
- Learn about the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office and work with special teams including Marine Patrol, Dunes Patrol, And Forest Patrol
This is a competitive process that will be closing soon! Apply today at:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/LaneCountyOR/CadetApplication
Additional information may be found at: http://www.LaneCountyOr.gov/Sheriff_Cadet_Program or by contacting Sgt. Alex Speldrich at alex.speldrich@lanecountyor.gov
Measure 20-340
www.publicsafetylevy.org
Week of March 19-25, 2023
Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold will be available for questions related to the proposed Lane County Jail Levy Renewal (Measure 20-340) at two different locations this upcoming week:
- Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30PM – Elmira Elementary School (88960 Territorial Hwy., Elmira)
- Thursday, March 23 at 6:00PM – John Serbu Campus (2727 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Eugene)
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.
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State of Oregon Grant Funding Helps Authorities Shut Down Large-Scale Marijuana Operations With Ties to International Criminal Activity. (Photo) – 03/17/23
In 2022, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a limited amount of funding by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to investigate and shut down large-scale criminal marijuana manufacturing operations. The Sheriff’s Office has utilized this funding to shut down several operations that have negatively impacted our community and without the grant funding, LCSO would not have the resources needed to conduct the investigations. Investigative resources are focused on large scale operations that illegally sell their product on the black market undermining licensed growers and producers. Often these unregulated operations negatively impact the environment, violate land use laws, construction safety codes, and labor laws. The following case summaries are recent examples of how this limited funding has been used.
LCSO Case # 23-0047
On February 15, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Oregon State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at 7 locations throughout Lane County after a year long investigation into large criminal marijuana manufacturing and processing ring. During the execution of the warrants law enforcement seized over 16,000 marijuana plants growing in 9 buildings on a property off of Crow Road outside Eugene. Approximately $280,000 in US currency, firearms as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicles and grow equipment were discovered to be directly involved in the operation. During the investigation it was learned that marijuana from the operation was being sold out of state to places including Texas, Minnesota, Arkansas and even as far away as France. One of those arrested was already on probation in Texas after he was caught shipping marijuana through the United States Postal Service.
An illegal professional-scale marijuana refinement facility was located and shut down on W. 12th Ave. in West Eugene as part of the operation. This site is located just feet from the Amazon Canal (See attached photos). The refinement facility contained large volumes of unregulated highly flammable materials that requires a full scale Hazmat crew to safely clean up. The cleanup process is ongoing.
Seven people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and more arrests are expected. Law enforcement was assisted at the scenes by Lane County Code Enforcement, the State of Oregon Watermasters, Eugene/Springfield Fire, and Eugene Code Enforcement. Several code and water violations were located, and the agencies are working to obtain compliance with those responsible.
LCSO Case # 23-0039
On March 15th, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Teams Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at numerous residences in the Eugene-Springfield area, a residence in Happy Valley (Clackamas County) and a grow location south of Eugene. Investigators seized over 12,000 marijuana plants and 3600 pounds of processed marijuana. Deputies had become aware of the grow location after several complaints from neighboring properties. The property contained two 60’X300’ buildings built strictly for marijuana production. LCSO began an investigation and through surveillance determined those responsible for the operation in Lane County resided in three houses in Lane County and one house in Happy Valley, Oregon. The three residences in Lane County were searched with the agencies listed above, while the Happy Valley location was secured by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. During searches of the involved residences, firearms, marijuana and over $400,000 in US Currency was located.
During the investigation deputies learned that several of the suspects had been involved in a 2017 organized criminal ring in King County Washington in what was described as a ‘TCO’ or Transcontinental Drug Trafficking Organization. During the Washington investigation it was learned that over 9 million dollars had been wired to China under different LLC names.
At two of the locations Law Enforcement found occupants unwilling to exit and in one case, at a residence on Q Street, a flash sound diversionary device was used to gain compliance.
Lane County detectives were assisted by Chinese interpreters from the FBI. During interviews it was learned that the workers at the grow had been promised between $3000-$5000 per month. One of the workers indicated he hadn’t been paid for 3-4 months and hadn’t received his promised pay for about one year. The worker indicated that they were made to work 7 days a week and 13 hour days to increase production. The worker told detectives he would like to leave, but couldn’t or he would never be paid for his work. The same worker revealed that the grow location off Dillard Road was the target of two armed robberies in the last two years that went unreported to police. In one of the robberies, the suspects pointed firearms at the workers and told them that they were police officers.
Three people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and investigations are ongoing.
These are very large-scale criminal operations. Individually, each of these grows was consuming approximately $500,000 per year in electricity.
Lane County Code Enforcement and the Oregon State Watermaster’s Office responded to these grow locations and are dealing with numerous violations regarding water use and building safety codes.
LCSO would like to thank all the partner agencies that assisted in these investigations as well as analytical help from the Oregon National Guard. Without the assistance of our partners, LCSO would not have adequate resources to investigate and dismantle these highly complex operations.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting search warrant service on a large scale criminal marijuana operation. Deputies are presently at multiple undisclosed locations within Lane County. This investigation is in its infancy and additional details cannot be released at this moment. More information will be provided when available. There is no threat to the public.
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LCSO Case #23-1342 — Missing Endangered Person from Marcola area (Photo) – 03/09/23
With the help of tips from the community, Winn was located this evening in good health.
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The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing endangered person. 23-year-old Aleha Marie Winn was last seen at her residence in the 39000blk of Ann Lane north of Marcola last night at approximately 10:00pm. Winn is developmentally disabled and functions as a 13-year-old.
Winn is described as a Hispanic female standing approximately 5’03” and weighing about 200lbs. She has shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. She may be wearing a light blue Captain America hooded sweatshirt. She also may have her pet hamster with her.
Anyone who has seen Winn or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Original Article: Source