Lane County Mugshots ©

FLORENCE, Ore. — A late-night encounter on October 9, 2025, led to a high-stakes pursuit and arrest on Herman Cape Road, north of Florence, after a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy confronted a wanted suspect. Tyler Ashton Leavitt , 41, of Indiana, was arrested following a dangerous chase involving gunfire, vehicle collisions, and a tactical maneuver. Around 11:30 p.m., a deputy spotted a suspicious pickup on U.S. Forest Service land. Upon identifying Leavitt, the driver, deputies discovered an Indiana warrant for his arrest on charges including disarming law enforcement, criminal recklessness, and resisting law enforcement. When deputies attempted to arrest him, Leavitt accelerated toward a deputy on the narrow road, striking a patrol car. Fearing for the deputy’s safety, a second deputy fired at Leavitt, who was unharmed. The targeted deputy narrowly escaped by diving out of the way. Leavitt fled, attempting to enter a driveway in the 5000 block of Herman Cape Road but was blocked by a ...

EUGENE, Ore. — Eugene Police Department (EPD) arrested seven suspects linked to a daytime burglary on October 6 at a Bethel-area home owned by Asian community members, who were working at their business during the crime (Case 25-16245). The investigation, targeting a suspected group of foreign nationals involved in similar crimes, led to a breakthrough using Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology. Security footage captured a suspect posing as a pizza delivery driver before cameras malfunctioned. Detectives traced the suspect’s vehicle through ALPR, confirming its presence near the crime scene. On October 8, the vehicle was spotted in south Eugene, and by October 9, EPD tracked it and two others to Corvallis, Salem, and Keizer, where a related burglary occurred in west Salem. EPD collaborated with Salem Police to advance the investigation. A search warrant was executed by EPD SWAT on October 9 at a residence in the 2400 block of Skyline Boulevard. Seven suspects fled but ...

EUGENE, Ore. — The Eugene Police Department (EPD) is intensifying efforts to combat a series of burglaries targeting Asian occupied residential homes, with a new incident reported in the Bethel area on October 6. Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit are investigating the afternoon burglary, which may be linked to a broader pattern of approximately 21 similar crimes since late 2023. Authorities suspect an organized group, possibly involving foreign nationals, is responsible, with similar crimes reported across Oregon and nationwide. The suspects reportedly surveil victims, pose as delivery drivers or gardeners, and use tactics like signal jammers, power cuts, or high-visibility attire to execute burglaries, often through rear entrances. Stolen items typically include safes, money, and jewelry. EPD has made arrests in past cases, with some suspects linked to crimes in other jurisdictions. A new, similar crime group may now be operating in Oregon. To enhance community safety, EPD urg...

In Eugene, Oregon, a fatal shooting outside a late-night eatery in 2023 sparked a legal saga that continues to unfold. Elijah Michael Pruitt , now 22 , was convicted of second-degree murder, only to see his conviction overturned by the Oregon Court of Appeals in August 2025. With charges reinstated, Pruitt is back in Lane County Jail awaiting a new trial, his fate hanging in the balance as of October 7, 2025. This case, rooted in a deadly clash, exposes the fragility of justice and the weight of prosecutorial missteps. The Fatal Night On March 14, 2023, in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood, Pruitt, a 20-year-old supervisor at the Fat Shack restaurant, confronted 19-year-old Fernando Giffen-Vallejo for using nitrous oxide canisters. The dispute spilled onto 13th Avenue, escalating into a brawl. Giffen-Vallejo fought back, before Pruitt, a convicted felon, fired a single shot from an illegal handgun, killing him. Two bystanders were also injured. Arrested on the spot, Pruitt claimed self-d...