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LCSO Case #24-1773 – Sheriff’s deputies respond to shooting near Lassen Lane (Photo) – 04/06/24
On April 6th at about 3:30 a.m., deputies and a Junction City Police officer responded to the area of Lassen Lane and River Road for a report of a gunshot wound. One person was injured and transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspects fled immediately after the shooting, which appeared to be a targeted attack by individuals known to each other, and are still outstanding.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1.
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LCSO Case #24-1725 – Fatal vehicle crash on Clear Lake Road (Photo) – 04/04/24
***Date of crash corrected***
On the afternoon of April 3rd, Deputies with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded with fire personnel to a report of a single vehicle crash into trees along Clear Lake Road near Goodman Road, west of Eugene. The vehicle was observed driving at a high rate of speed before it left the roadway for an unknown reason and crashed. The driver was determined to be deceased, and the only occupant of the vehicle.
The driver has been identified as Shawn Anthony McBride, 35, of Junction City.
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LCSO Case #24-1671 – Missing Person from west Eugene (Photo) – 04/02/24
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 39-year-old Brian John Fierke. He last had contact with his family on March 26th, 2024. Deputies, detectives, and Sheriff’s Search & Rescue have searched extensively for Fierke without success.
Fierke is described as a white male adult, standing approximately 6’4” tall and weighing about 185 pounds. Fierke has brown hair and blue eyes. He may have brown facial hair.
Anyone with information about Fierke’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1, and reference LCSO Case #24-1671.
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LCSO Case #24-1571 — Traffic Stop Leads to Another Large Fentanyl Seizure (Photo) – 03/27/24
On March 26th, 2024, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop near the 1800 block of Franklin Blvd. During the stop, K9 Bear was deployed and alerted to one of the drugs he is trained to detect inside the cab of the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) of blue fentanyl based pills and approximately half a kilogram (1.1 pounds) of pure pressed fentanyl powder. The occupants of the vehicle are facing pending criminal charges for narcotic distribution.
***Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram has the potential to kill 500,000 people. (DEA.gov)***
Illegal Drugs
New LCSO K9 Doing Good Work (Photo) – 03/25/24
Lane County Sheriff’s Office K9 located a large amount of illegal drugs in a vehicle.
K9 Bear assisted with a traffic stop in the search for illegal drugs. K9 Bear was able to assist in locating a kilo of pure fentanyl and approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills that were located in a hidden compartment of the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle have been referred for prosecution. This investigation is ongoing and additional details are not available at this time.
K9 Bear is a recent addition to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and specializes in locating illegal drugs.
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Lane County Sheriff’s Office Involved in a Pursuit (Photo) – 03/25/24
LCSO Case #24-1524
On 3/24/2024 Lane County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a pursuit with a menacing subject.
Deputies were on the lookout for 56-year-old Walter Edward Boss of Junction City yesterday after he made threats to go to a local police station and shoot law enforcement officers. Boss was observed in his vehicle by a deputy near the town of Coburg. Boss pulled behind the lone deputy’s vehicle and began chasing him. The deputy was able to safely disengage and wait for backup. Other units, including troopers with the Oregon State Police, responded to the area and located Boss still driving in his vehicle at which time a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, Boss pointed a rifle and laser at responding personnel. The rifle was later discovered to be an airsoft rifle that resembles a real rifle. The pursuit ended on Powerline Road where Boss got out of his vehicle with the rifle that had the laser attached. After attempting to injure himself, deputies were able to take Boss into custody. Boss was taken to the hospital due to a minor self-inflicted injury and later released. He was then lodged at Lane County Adult Corrections on Menacing, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Unlawful use of a Weapon.
This incident involved multiple agencies and the Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Junction City Police Department, Eugene Police Department and Oregon State Police for all the cooperation to resolve this situation.
On March 16th, a resident in the Cinnamon Avenue area of unincorporated Eugene noticed a male get out of a parked vehicle with no license plates, don a mask, and begin stealing packages from porches. The thief stole from not only the calling resident’s porch, but from neighboring porches as well. As deputies responded to the area, the vehicle drove away. Deputies quickly located the vehicle in the parking lot of Fred Meyers on Division Avenue. The vehicle was empty, so they relayed the suspect description to loss prevention staff. They observed the suspect, who was shoplifting, inside the store. About this time, deputies learned the suspect vehicle was also likely stolen out of Eugene.
As the suspect exited the store and walked to the pickup, he was met by deputies, K9 Bruno, and Eugene Police officers. Deputies located stolen mail and packages on the suspect and inside the vehicle, which was confirmed as stolen. The suspect was identified as Christopher Lagrua, 37, of Eugene. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Theft in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Theft of Mail.
Deputies returned the stolen vehicle and re-delivered mail throughout the River Road area to a half-dozen rightful owners, many of whom would have had no idea their mail had been stolen. Thanks to the observant resident who called this theft in and provided a great description to our deputies!
Firearms
03/15/24 – LCSO Case #24-0420 – Search Warrant at illegal marijuana grow leads to fentanyl, firearms (Photo) – 03/19/24
On Friday, March 15th, Lane County Sheriff’s deputies executed two search warrants related to a large-scale illegal marijuana grow operation. The illegal grow was located in the 37000 block of Highway 58, Pleasant Hill, and the owner lived in the 5100 block of Saratoga Lane, Eugene. More than 1,900 growing marijuana plants were located and destroyed, along with several hundred pounds of processed marijuana. Deputies seized more than 200 suspected fentanyl pills, psilocybin mushrooms, $40,000 dollars in currency, a truck, and large generator on a trailer that was related to the production of marijuana. Deputies also seized 42 firearms, 4 suppressors, and over 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
Two males were arrested, one at each location. They were identified as Liam Gibboney, 44, and Keoki Kaleikini, 46, both of Eugene. They were cited and released for Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana – Felony and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. Numerous county code and watermaster violations were discovered, many of which directly impacted surrounding properties. Lane County Land Management will follow up on the violations.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on this case by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. This investigation would not have been possible without the ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant (IMMEG). This grant was created in 2018 by the Oregon Legislature to assist local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices in their efforts to address the illegal marijuana market in Oregon.
Drone View
03/12/24 – Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue solves a 20-year-old problem with an evening of high angle training (Photo) – 03/18/24
Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue is always training. Last week, they were able to train and help out our Oregon State Parks at the same time! About 20 volunteers practiced rigging and operating our high and steep angle rescue systems at Heceta Head Lighthouse…to “rescue” a picnic table on the cliff below that has been an eyesore for 20 years.
The rope rescue systems can be deployed quickly almost anywhere by just a few trained personnel, and have been used to rescue many injured swimmers and hikers. But a picnic table was a first! The unique “patient” presented an excellent challenge for our problem solving and adaptability. The training provided as close to a real-world scenario as it could get – and a perfect view.
Nearly every week, Sheriff’s Search & Rescue volunteers assist our residents in all types of environments. Learn more about our Search & Rescue program at www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/sheriff_s_office/volunteers/search_and_rescue.
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01/19/24 — LCSO Case #24-0292 — Domestic Assault by Armed Felon (Photo) – 03/14/24
03/06/24 – UPDATE
On March 6th, Ash pled guilty to Assault in the Fourth Degree Felony, three counts of Menacing, three counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was sentenced to 44 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
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01/19/24 – LCSO Case #24-0292 – Domestic Assault by Armed Felon
Just before midnight on January 19th, Deputies with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a dispute in the 86000 block of Territorial Road. One of the involved, Josh Thomas Ash, 38, was reportedly armed with a handgun and bat and looking for one of the two victims. As deputies approached the residence to make contact, they heard an active dispute inside. Simultaneously, one of the victims reported Ash was attempting to break down the door of the room they were hiding in. Deputies forced entry into the residence and quickly detained Ash without further incident. The Deputies’ investigation revealed Ash had hit one of the victims in the head with a baseball bat, menaced them with a handgun, and was a felon in possession of firearms. Ash was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges of Assault 2, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Dexter-Lowell Safety Info
3/12/24 – LCSO Case #24-1246 – Attempted kidnapping in the Dexter/Lowell area (Photo) – 03/12/24
Last night, a juvenile was approached by a vehicle while walking in the area of Barbre Road and Rogers Lane. The driver told the juvenile he knew her parents and was there to give her a ride home, neither of which was true. The juvenile began walking back towards the Dexter Market, and the vehicle sped off. Deputies became aware hours later when the information was found on Facebook. They patrolled the area, but did not find a matching vehicle and subject.
The vehicle is described as a red SUV similar to a Ford Escape. The driver is described as a scruffy, skinny white male, mid-40s, with reddish-blonde curly hair.
If you observe a matching vehicle and subject or have more information on this case, please contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 option 1.
West Lane Arrests
03/03/24 – LCSO Cases #24-1003, 24-1021 – Deputies assigned to West Lane arrest two on multiple mail thefts, car break ins (Photo) – 03/12/24
03/03/24 – LCSO Cases #24-1003, 24-1021 – Deputies assigned to West Lane arrest two on multiple mail thefts, car break ins
Beginning on February 25th, two suspects began stealing mail from over a dozen mailboxes and broke into a car in the Mapleton area. Community members helped Lane County Sheriff’s deputies identify possible suspects and the involved vehicle through security video and photos. On February 27th, KEZI reported on the incidents, which led many victims to come forward that had not yet reported thefts to the Sheriff’s Office. On February 28th, both suspects, Matthew Curtis Berkner Sr. and Daniel Kenneth Frye, were located and arrested in Florence on unrelated cases.
Deputies contacted over a dozen victims and several witnesses over the following days and developed probable cause to arrest both suspects, who were still being held in the Lane County Jail. On March 3rd, deputies added charges of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Theft 1, Criminal Mischief 2, and Theft 3. Additional charges may be added, as mail theft can be charged federally by the US Postal Inspectors.
Mail theft and car break-ins are both crimes of opportunity we can all take steps to prevent. We recommend residents install locking mailboxes, check mail frequently (and have a trusted neighbor check your mail when you are gone), and don’t leave valuables in your car even when parked in your driveway. Motion lights and home security cameras are also very helpful in both preventing crime in your neighborhood, and assisting deputies with investigations.
Thanks to the many residents who helped on this case.
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