Automated Traffic Enforcement citations go live on Saturday

Beginning Saturday, May 30, the City of Bend and the Bend Police Department will issue citations to drivers who speed or run red lights at three intersections around the City.  

The City just completed a 45-day warning period as a first step in the implementation of the Automated Traffic Enforcement program, which is designed to cut down on motor vehicle crashes and increase traffic safety for all road users in our community. Between April 23 and May 18, 1,164 warnings were issued to drivers. 

Cameras in three locations, which were chosen for a high number of crashes and community complaints, went live on April 15:  

As of Saturday, when the cameras capture images and video of vehicles that do not stop for a red light (including a complete stop before a right turn) or that speed through the intersection, the driver will be issued a citation through the mail. 

Signs to alert drivers to the automated traffic enforcement cameras are mounted near each intersection, as well as on major routes as drivers enter city limits.  

When cameras capture a vehicle speeding or running a red light, the image is sent to a Bend Police Department Traffic Enforcement Agent, who determines whether to issue a citation to the registered owner of the vehicle. Those citations are handled through the Bend Municipal Court. 

If you’d like to learn more about the program, go to https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/police/traffic-parking/automated-traffic-enforcement-program/.

Infracciones por el control de tránsito automatizado estarán vigentes este sábado

Empezando este sábado, 30 de mayo, la Ciudad de Bend y el Departamento de Policía de Bend darán infracciones a los automovilistas que han conducido en exceso de velocidad o que se han pasado la luz roja en tres intersecciones por la ciudad. 

La Ciudad ya ha concluido un periodo de 45 días de aviso como un primer paso en la implementación del programa de la aplicación de tránsito automatizado. El programa es diseñado para reducir los accidentes de tránsito y para mejorar la seguridad de tránsito para todos los usuarios de calles en nuestra comunidad. Entre 23 de abril y 18 de mayo, automovilistas recibieron 1,164 avisos.

Las cámaras en tres intersecciones, que fueron seleccionadas por el número elevado de accidentes y quejas de la comunidad, empezaron el 15 de abril: 

Empezando el sábado, 30 de mayo, cuando las cámaras capturen imágenes y video de vehículos que no se paran para la luz roja (incluyendo una parada completa antes de girar a la derecha) o que conduzcan en exceso de velocidad por la intersección, el automovilista recibirá una infracción por correo. 

Letreros están montados cerca de cada intersección para avisar a los automovilistas de las cámaras de aplicación de tránsito automatizado, y también hay letreros en las rutas principales cuando los automovilistas entran en los límites de la ciudad. 

Cuando las cámaras capturan un vehículo en exceso de la velocidad o pasando una luz roja, la imagen se envía a un agente de control de tránsito del Departamento de Policía de Bend. Este agente determinará si emitirá una infracción al propietario registrado del vehículo. Estas infracciones son gobernadas a través de la Corte Municipal. 

Si quieres aprender más sobre el programa, visita a https://bendoregon.gov/departments/public-safety/police/traffic-parking/automated-traffic-enforcement-program/.

Date: May 26, 2026

Case #s: 2026-00027396, 2026-00025875

Incident: Bend Police share gun safety reminders in wake of two recent accidental discharges

Date / Time of Incidents: May 24, 2026 / 11:48 a.m. 
May 16, 2026 / 2:31 p.m. 

Locations: 1900 block of NE Zachary Court, Bend 
1700 block of SE Tempest Drive, Bend 

Arrested: Dylan James Plymale, 27-year-old Bend resident  
Offenses: Reckless Endangering x2, Assault IV, Criminal Mischief II

Arrested: Preston Wayne Cooper, 37-year-old Bend resident 
Offenses: Reckless Endangering 

In the past two weeks, Bend Police have responded to two separate incidents of gun owners accidentally discharging handguns in their homes, putting neighbors at risk. 

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, Bend Police received a call reporting a family member had found evidence that a bullet had traveled through an elderly woman’s apartment wall, mattress and box springs, closet doors and lodged in a box of medical equipment. Investigating officers learned that on Thursday, May 14, the woman told family members she’d heard a loud noise in the spare bedroom and that her neighbor, later identified as 37-year-old Preston Wayne Cooper, came over to ask to borrow a cup of sugar shortly after the loud noise. 

Officers also learned that Cooper had pawned a firearm on May 16. On May 18, officers served a search warrant on Cooper’s apartment and located multiple firearms and ammunition, as well as a bullet hole in the apartment’s wall. Cooper was arrested on suspicion of reckless endangering. 

In a separate case, at approximately 11:48 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, Bend Police received a call from the tenant of a townhome on NE Zachary Court, who reported his neighbor had discharged his weapon and the bullet had passed through the wall. 

When officers arrived, 27-year-old Dylan James Plymale reported he had been cleaning his firearms and thought the handgun was unloaded when he tossed it onto the coffee table and it fired a round. The bullet went through the neighbor’s television and shrapnel from the television struck the neighbor. An investigation determined that Plymale was practicing drawing his handgun when it fired. 

Plymale was arrested on suspicion of two counts of reckless endangering, fourth-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief. 

Bend Police would like to remind gun owners of the importance of responsible ownership. It is your responsibility to know how to properly handle any firearm you own, and to secure your firearms in a safe manner. Always keep a gun pointed in a safe direction, even when you believe you are handling an unloaded gun. Keep your finger off the trigger – the only time you should touch the trigger is when you are prepared to fire it. Never assume a firearm is unloaded – the first thing you should do when you pick up a gun is to check that it is unloaded. 

Date: May 26, 2026

Case #: 2026-00027358

Incident: Two teenagers arrested for burglarizing building in Northwest Crossing

Date / Time of Incident: May 24, 2026 / 2:13 a.m. 

Location: 2800 block of NW Crossing Drive, Bend

Arrested: 15-year-old Bend resident 
15-year-old Bend resident 

Offenses: Burglary II, Aggravated Theft I, Criminal Mischief I, Escape III, Possession of Burglary Tools

At approximately 2:13 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, Bend Police responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 2800 block of NW Crossing Drive. A caller reported that two people in ski masks were trying to break into a building through a second-story balcony.

The caller reported that the pair had parked an electric motorcycle at the southwest corner of the building, climbed up onto a balcony, and gained entry to the building. 

Officers arrived and set up a perimeter, and one officer saw the suspects load electronics into a backpack before exiting the building at about 2:41 a.m. When officers told the pair to stop, they ran from the area before being caught nearby. 

The suspects, both 15-year-old boys, were arrested and transported to the Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice facility on suspicion of second-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree criminal mischief, third-degree escape and possession of burglary tools. 

The e-motorcycle used in the commission of the crimes was impounded. 

Date: May 22, 2026

Case #s: 2026-00026865 
2026-00026842 
2026-00025741

Incident: Recent scams target locals with threats of arrest, legal trouble

Over the past several weeks, Bend Police have seen a significant uptick in scammers posing as members of law enforcement and demanding money to pay for warrants.

Officers took a case on May 15 of a Bend woman who received a call from a number identified as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The caller alleged the victim missed federal jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest. At the caller’s direction, the victim deposited approximately $7,000 into a Bitcoin ATM in Bend. 

In one instance reported to Bend Police on May 21, a Bend woman received a phone call and text message with a court document claiming she owed $4,500 for failing to show up for jury duty in Deschutes County. She sent the funds directly to the caller through a banking app. 

In another case reported on the same day, a Bend man reported he received a call that he had a warrant for failing to appear at a trial. The caller directed the victim to deposit $10,000 in a Bitcoin ATM. The victim deposited $2,900 before the ATM stopped working.

These are just a few of the recent scams our officers have seen, and they have a few things in common. The scammers pose as members of law enforcement, typically using VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone numbers, which transmit voice calls over the internet and cannot be traced. The numbers sometimes spoof legitimate phone numbers for law enforcement agencies. The scammers direct victims to take out cash and deposit it in a Bitcoin ATM or buy gift cards and share photos of the gift card codes with the scammers. The scammers often have a lot of personal information about the victims, which makes their scam seem more legitimate.

Money lost in these scams is almost never recovered, and in 2025 the federal government received upwards of 1 million reports of scams. 

Law enforcement will never call, text or email you demanding money. Law enforcement and federal agencies do not ask for payments through gift cards or Bitcoin. 

 
Do not transfer money into Bitcoin ATMs or online apps at the behest of any agency or business. 

Not sure if it’s a scam? Trust your gut and hang up. Call the law enforcement agency to verify the call. Don’t trust caller ID – a scammer can fake the number they’re calling from. 

Have you been the victim of a scam? Call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 to report it and file a complaint with the FBI at www.IC3.gov.