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Showing posts from August, 2023

Shackled Attempted Murder Suspect Escapes During State Hospital Transfer

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Salem, Ore. - On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at approximately 10:45 P.M., the Oregon State Police were notified of an escaped adult in custody and patient of the Oregon State Hospital, located in Salem.  Christopher Lee Pray was an adult in custody at the Multnomah County jail for multiple serious charges, to include Attempted Aggravated Murder, when he was transferred to the Oregon State Hospital on August 30.   At approximately 10:45 P.M., Pray escaped from custody when he stole a white 2016 Dodge Caravan, bearing Oregon license plate E265614, and eluded law enforcement southbound on Interstate 5.  Law enforcement terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns and Pray was not apprehended. Prays whereabouts are unknown at this time.  He was last seen heading southbound on Interstate 5, however he has ties to the greater Portland metro area.  At the time of his escape, he was fully restrained with leg shackles, a belly chain, handcuffs, and a restraint connecting all three together.  H

Officer Struck by Gunfire – Suspect In Custody

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Springfield, Ore. - The Springfield Police Department 911 received multiple calls at 8:09 am on August 31, 2023, regarding an adult male breaking items in the street and acting erratically. SPD Patrol Officers responded to the scene and attempted to contact the man who had retreated into a residence.  At 8:36 am, multiple rounds were fired from inside the residence at the1800 Block of Market Street, in the direction of the officers. One officer was struck and was able to move out of the direct line of fire. The officer was transported to an area hospital and is in stable condition. A second officer was struck by fragments resulting from the shots and also received care at a local hospital.  Multiple SPD officers responded to the scene. More shots were discharged from inside the residence as officers worked to establish a perimeter. Personnel from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, and the Oregon State Police began arriving at the scene and evacuating residents

Single Vehicle Crash Causes Multiple Power Outages

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Eugene, Ore. -On August 29, 2023 at approximately 01:15AM, officers from Eugene Police Department responded to a single vehicle crash into a power pole on Bethel Drive near Rikhoff Street. On arrival officers located a blue Chevy pick-up truck overturned in a ditch that paralleled the roadway. There were multiple power lines down and residents reported loud explosions and smoke in the area. The involved vehicle was found unoccupied and the driver had fled on foot. With the assistance of witnesses from Union Pacific Railroad, a police K-9 located the driver hiding in some nearby bushes. The driver, Francisco Arrellano-Ferrel, was not injured during the crash. Following an investigation, he was arrested and charged with hit and run – property damage, and cited for driving without a license. Multiple traffic lights and power to area businesses and residences were disrupted from the crash.  EPD Case #23-12827 (Information from EPD) Sponsored by:  Preston’s Painting LLC Please help keep ind

Lane County Jail Inmate Death Investigation

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Eugene, Ore. - On 08/24/2023 at 2:00pm, a Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy working within a housing unit at the Lane County Jail discovered a male adult-in-custody (AIC) unresponsive in his cell during hourly checks.  His last check had been completed at 1:00pm.  The male had a ligature tied around his neck and was unconscious and not breathing. The deputy removed the ligature and immediately began life-saving efforts. Emergency medical assistance arrived and despite continued life-saving efforts the male did not survive.  Detectives along with the Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and began an investigation.  All indications at this point are that the male died as the result of apparent suicide.  Investigators with the Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing the investigation into the official cause of his death.  A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today.  Cates - 2021 mugshot The male is identified as 33-year-old Joshua William Cates .  Cates was conv

Walton Man Convicted of Homicide in 2022 Hit and Run

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Eugene, Ore. - Walter Max Sledge, Jr was convicted of Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Failure to Perform Duties of Driver to Seriously Injured Persons on Aug. 22nd, 2023. Sledge plead guilty to both charges on Aug. 14th, 2023.  Sledge was transported today to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility for intake. After intake Sledge will be assigned an all male Oregon prison to serve his sentence.   *Please note: We updated this article as the court records showed murder in the second degree when we published this. It was brought to our attention that not only was murder the wrong charge, but that the court records had been updated to show criminally negligent homicide. Here is a picture of the court records as they appeared at the time we published. click to enlarge Sledge was sentenced to 41 months total with the counts running concurrently.  Post prison supervisor 36 months. ***ORIGINAL STORY*** Eugene, Ore. - On March 14, 2022, at approximately 10:10 p.m., a pedestrian-vehicle crash wa

Eugene Police Respond to Calls of Man Setting Fire in a Home

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Eugene, Ore. - At approximately 10:35 p.m. on August 19, Eugene Police began to receive calls about a disorderly man at a home in the 2800 block of Van Avenue who was yelling and attempting to break into the home with a club, then starting a fire on the stove. Eugene Police officers arrived and saw smoke coming from the residence. Officers found that the suspect, later identified as Nicholas John Hedberg, age 38, of Eugene, had left. Eugene Springfield Fire extinguished the fire. Hedberg was reported to have been threatening another man, age 59, throughout the day. Because of this, the victim had left the home and was not there when Hedberg arrived. Eugene Police responded to the 2700 block of Brackenfern Road to contact Hedberg at his home. They located him in his open garage and Hedberg was taken into custody safely and without incident. Officers applied for a search warrant, which was approved by a judge and recovered stolen property. Hedberg was lodged at Lane County Jail on charge

Street Crimes Unit Search Warrant Yields Arrest on Drug and Domestic Violence Charges

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Eugene, Ore. - While following up on information provided by members of the public about drug dealing in the West University and Downtown areas, Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit officers gained information that 35-year-old Eugene resident Alexander Hibdon was using and distributing narcotics from his residence in the 300 block of East 13th Avenue .  SCU applied for a search warrant, which was approved by a local judge for Hibdon’s residence seeking drug evidence and evidence of another crime. While in the process of securing the warrant, SCU officers also developed Probable Cause for Domestic Violence crimes for Hibdon.   Eugene Police SCU officers and Special Investigations Unit detectives located Hibdon and the vehicle he was associated with at his residence at 4:54 p.m. on August 16. Given Hibdon’s previous statements about an armed confrontation with police, and reports of him possessing a firearm, SCU requested EPD SWAT assets to more safely take Hibdon into custody outside his r

Body Found in Blue River Reservoir Identified

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Blue River, Ore. - The body found in Blue River Reservoir on Saturday has been identified as that of 40-year-old Mekenna Christine Reiley of Blue River.   A post-mortem examination conducted by the Oregon State Medical Examiner has revealed that Reiley died as a result of drowning.  There are no indications of foul play.  The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate any leads related to her disappearance. News Release from  Lane Co. Sheriff's Office Posted on FlashAlert: August 15th, 2023 2:31 PM Sponsored by:  Preston’s Painting LLC Please help keep independent journalism alive with a donation to my Venmo: @Michael-Weber-379

Man Arrested after Starting Fire in Wooded Area

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  Eugene, Ore. - At approximately 9:49 a.m. on August 14, a person called 911 after seeing visible flames from a fire in a field near a pond near Hwy. 99 and McDougal Lane.  Eugene Springfield Fire responded, along with Eugene Police, as a man was reported to be feeding the fire. Eugene Springfield addressed the fire and Eugene Police contacted and arrested the suspect, 41-year-old Guy Vernon Aiken, for Disorderly Conduct. Aiken was found to have started and then was actively maintaining a large bonfire in a wooded area. According to Eugene Springfield Fire, most brush and grass fires are caused by humans and are preventable. Here are a few ways you can prevent these types of fires: Keep vehicles off dry grass. Sparks and high temperatures from exhausts can cause dry grass to catch fire. Dispose of smoking materials in a fire-proof container and make sure they've gone out. Do NOT toss them on the ground or out of a moving vehicle. Check the weather conditions before mowing your law

Fatal House Fire Golden Gardens Eugene

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Eugene, Ore. - Eugene Springfield Fire was dispatched to a house fire in the 2100 block of Golden Gardens Street on Sunday, August 13 at 6:28 p.m.  The first unit arrived within two minutes of being dispatched. Five fire suppression apparatus, two medic units, and multiple command staff were dispatched to the incident. Crews successfully kept the fire isolated to the garage where it originated.   ESF requested Eugene Police response after receiving information an adult male was unaccounted for. All other residents were able to evacuate safely. Eugene Police responded. The adult male was found deceased and Eugene Police Arson investigators are following up on the case. (Information from Eugene/Springfield Fire) Sponsored by:  Preston’s Painting LLC Please help keep independent journalism alive with a donation to my Venmo: @Michael-Weber-379

Proactive Retail Theft Operation Results In Multiple Arrests

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Springfield, OR – The Springfield Police Department’s problem-oriented-policing team,  August 8, 2023, in collaboration with our community partners at Jerry’s Home Improvement, executed a proactive retail theft operation at 2525 Olympic Street. During a four-hour period of surveillance, two individuals were arrested for stealing power tools, paint, and miscellaneous supplies.  Neither individual made any attempt to pay for the items they had taken from inside the store. Both individuals were then interviewed, admitted to the thefts, were then taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Springfield Municipal Jail.  Retail thefts are an ongoing problem in Springfield and for retailers nationwide. The Springfield Police Department is committed to, and focused on, addressing these thefts. These proactive retail theft operations will continue to be one of many tools that SPD utilizes in partnership with various businesses to identify community-oriented problems and find creative s

Armed Partygoer Safely Disarmed by Officers after Menacing Others

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Eugene, Ore. - At 12:33 a.m., on August 12, a member of the public called regarding a loud party in the 3200 block of Kinsrow Avenue, reporting noise and yelling about drugs. At 1:09 a.m., another call came in about a dispute and a man waving a gun around.  Multiple EPD units responded to the hectic scene, with witnesses pointing to a male with a firearm, later identified as Alex Ragan , age 19, of Eugene. Ragan saw officers and tried to get into a vehicle to leave, but officers attempted to detain him. Ragan immediately resisted arrest and reached into his waistband, retrieved the firearm, and was holding it when officers took it away from him in the middle of the fight. A taser was used to take him safely into custody.   While officers were attempting to place Ragan in handcuffs, his friend, later identified as Johnathon Teixeira, age 20, confronted the officers and was physically interfering with the arrest. When an officer tried to take Teixeira into custody, a physical confrontati

Woman Arrested for DUII – Controlled Substance, Reckless Driving

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Eugene, Ore. - At around 1:02 a.m. on August 11, a Eugene Police Street Crimes officer on shift spotted a speeding car at the Chambers Street Connector, headed north towards River Road.  He caught up to the vehicle and initially the driver failed to yield but stopped on West Hillcrest Drive. During the contact, the driver, Michelle Lynn Neill , age 26, started to scream and yell. The SCU officer suspected she was under the influence of drugs or having a mental health issue and coordinated additional officers into the area to safely pin the vehicle to prevent Neill from potentially leaving. Neill was taken into custody without incident but then continued to scream and yell, kicking at officers. Officers called for Eugene Springfield Fire due to possibly drug reactions and Neill was placed in a flexible restraint and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. A DUII investigation found probable cause to charge Neill with DUII – Controlled Substance, and Reckless Driving. She was cle

Three Juveniles Arrested After Stolen-Vehicle Pursuit Around Valley River Mall

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Eugene, Ore. - At 9:09 a.m., August 11, Eugene Police officers in the Country Club Road area spotted a reckless driver with two passengers speeding and attempted to catch up.  As they were catching up to it for a stop, the vehicle ran a red light and there was a short pursuit from Willagillespie Road to the Valley River Mall, and around the mall’s parking lot. The sedan’s juvenile driver and juvenile passengers bailed around Maurie Jacobs Park and rolled into a stop sign. Some of the juveniles went into the Willamette River. By 9:15 a.m., EPD officers had taken two of the males into custody. The third male had tried to swim away in the river, but came back to shore, where he was taken into custody under the bike bridge around 9:16 a.m. The vehicle was a freshly stolen Kia Soul. An officer provided a courtesy transport for the owner so she could recover her vehicle. Case 2311904 (Information from EPD) Sponsored by:  Preston’s Painting LLC Please help keep independent journalism alive wi

Woman Arrested after Shooting

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Eugene, Ore. - Eugene Police have arrested a Eugene woman wanted in yesterday’s shooting of another Eugene woman. She is being held at Lane County Jail on charges of Assault in the First Degree and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. At 1 a.m. on August 8, a shooting was reported at an apartment in the 300 block of W. 11th Avenue. 2020 mugshot  Eugene Police arrived at the apartment and found the 39-year-old victim had   been taken by a friend to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries, which   were not life threatening. Based on an investigation at the scene, 35-year-   old   Amber Dawn Louise Colwel l was identified as the suspect in the   shooting. The Eugene Police Violent Crimes detective assigned to the case spotted Colwell riding a bicycle at Roosevelt Boulevard and Foch Street at 9:44 on August 8. He directed a marked Eugene Police unit to the area for a high-risk stop. Colwell was taken into custody without incident and lodged on her charges. Case 23-11671 (Information fr

Man Arrested on DUII and Other Charges after Pursuit

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Eugene, Ore. - At 1:02 a.m. on August 9, a Eugene Police officer was conducting a traffic stop on W. 6th Avenue when he saw a Ford F-150 traveling at a high rate of speed going east bound, the wrong way on W. 6th Avenue.  He hurried to his patrol vehicle and went to search for the truck. He spotted it going the right way down W. 7th Avenue, and once he got behind the vehicle to observe it, he saw the vehicle swerve and suspected impairment. The officer attempted a traffic stop at Franklin Boulevard and Orchard Street, but the driver, later identified as Adrian Amir Allred/ADRIAN AMIR YAHYAZADEH , age 34, of Eugene, did not yield and continued eastbound into Springfield. The pursuit lasted for several miles mostly on residential neighborhood streets where Allred’s speeds were above the posted speeds and at times he drove on the wrong side of the road. There were attempts to forcibly stop Allred’s vehicle, however he was able to drive out of the attempts.  Once Allred got to Franklin Bou

Eugene Police Respond to Multiple Overdose Deaths

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Eugene, Ore. - In the past three days Eugene Police have responded to six overdose-related deaths.  While the Lane County Medical Examiner determines the cause of death, in each case initial investigation suggests a connection to illicit drug use and is likely connected to fentanyl use. This is a significant increase in deaths over a short period of time.  The public needs to be aware that some of the fentanyl currently circulating could be more potent and deadly than normal. Case  23-11281 : On August 2 at 12:46 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject behind a building. Evidence suggested they were using an illicit drug in the time leading up to their death. Case 23-11353 : On August 3 at 4:54 a.m. police and fire were called to the location of a deceased subject in an apartment. Evidence suggested they were using illicit drugs in the time leading up to their death. Case 23-11438 : On August 4 at 1:24 p.m police and fire were called to the location of a

Man Found Deceased in Willamette River

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Eugene, Ore. - At 10:52 a.m., on 8/2/2023, a passerby observed a person face down in the Willamette River near Knickerbocker Bridge and called 911. Eugene Police, Eugene Springfield Fire, and Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue responded. ESF recovered the body, an adult male who was determined to be deceased. The Medical Examiner was called and responded to the scene and will retain jurisdiction of the body. An investigation into the circumstances of the person’s death is underway. EPD Case Number 23-11302 (Information from EPD) Sponsored by:  Preston’s Painting LLC Please help keep independent journalism alive with a donation to my Venmo: @Michael-Weber-379