Today, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 11:23am Albany Fire Department notified Albany Police they were responding to a residence in the 1800 block of SW 16^th Ave for a trauma injury to the leg that was a result of an assault. Officers arrived and determined the suspect had attempted to sexually assault a female at the location and fled on foot approximately 20 minutes prior to the 911 call. Albany Fire Personnel transported her to a local area hospital for further treatment of her injuries. 

Officers and Detectives began an immediate search of the area for the suspect, who was identified by the victim as Brandon Taylor Beckner, age 37 of Albany.  

Officers continued to search the area and alerted the community via Nixle text alerts and social media messages. At approximately 1:40pm, a resident called to report a suspicious male was hiding in his backyard. Officers located Brandon Beckner walking in the 1000 block of 8^th Ave where he was taken into custody without incident. He is being held at the Linn County Jail on Attempted Rape I, Sodomy I, Sex Abuse I, Unlawful Sexual Penetration I, Coercion, and Strangulation. 

Greater Albany Public Schools was notified to ensure the safety of our children of ongoing police activity in the surrounding area.  GAPS notified parents as a precautionary measure that kids that walked or biked to school in the area should be picked up after school or until the suspect had been captured.  As soon as the suspect was arrested, the schools were notified that there was no longer a safety concern. 

This is an active investigation and no further information about this case will be released at this time. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any unreported incidents involving Brandon Beckner, please contact Albany Police Investigations Unit at 541-917-7686. 

Nixle is an emergency message alert system that sends local critical information via text. You can sign up by texting your zip code to 888777 or on the City of Albany website. 

#  #  #