Intoxicated 21 Year Old Speeds Down Corvallis Sidewalks In Attempt To Elude Officers - 03/13/26

On October 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM, Maria Johnson is seen by CPD Officer Donny Sheldon in downtown Corvallis, driving poorly without her lights.  Johnson then quickly turned onto a one way street heading in the wrong direction. When Sheldon activated his overhead lights, Johnson accelerated, lost control of her vehicle, and hit a parked car.  She then drove onto the sidewalk and sped the length of the block, while pedestrians screamed and scattered to avoid being struck.  Johnson continued to speed through town, again driving up on a sidewalk, and finally coming to a stop as a result of her vehicle becoming disabled.  Ignoring officer commands, she got out of her car and ran, attempting to scale a fence.  She was quickly caught and taken into custody by Sheldon and another officer.

Once taken into custody, Johnson offered in explanation of her eluding that she was scared because “the police were chasing me.”  She went on to say “I’ll definitely tell you I’m definitely gonna get a DUI tonight.” Her prediction was correct.

Less than an hour after driving, Johnson’s blood alcohol level was determined to be a .14%.  Under Oregon law, a person is guilty of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants if their blood alcohol level is a .08% at the time of driving, or their mental or physical faculties are “adversely affected to a noticeable or perceptible degree” by alcohol or another intoxicant.  In regards to Johnson, both were true.

Johnson appeared for sentencing before the Honorable Keri J. Smith on March 13.  She pled guilty to Felony Attempt to Elude a Police Officer, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver.  She would have been eligible for Diversion (a non-conviction resolution) on the DUII, but Deputy District Attorney Steaphan Clement objected, insisting on a DUII conviction because of Johnson’s extremely dangerous driving.  At sentencing, DDA Clement requested the Court impose a total of 20 days jail.  However, Judge Smith opted to sentence her to a total of 30 days work crew, fined her $1,255, suspended her driver license for one year, and placed her on supervised probation for 18 months.  She will also be required to get an evaluation for drug and alcohol abuse and complete recommended treatment.  Finally, Johnson will have to complete a Victim Impact Panel that will educate her on how DUII related crashes negatively impact the lives of victims.

“We are lucky that all we ended up with here was some property damage.  Property can be replaced; lives cannot.”  Ryan Joslin, Benton County District Attorney.  “If you have had too much, be safe, request a ride; when morning comes, you will be glad you did.”

https://youtu.be/YpGwH9Ug8BI

Albany Man Loses Fight With Dumpster, Ends Up With DUII Conviction (Photo) - 03/10/26

On August 9, 2025, at 1:00 AM, 28 year old Mark Troughton left the Peacock Bar and Grill.  He turned into a nearby alley way, crashed into a dumpster, and then drove off.  Multiple Corvallis Police Officers, investigating an unrelated assault nearby, reported the crash over the radio.  Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandom Bloom responded, and caught up with Troughton a few blocks from the dumpster crash. 

Troughton admitted to hitting the dumpster, but downplayed the event saying, “I didn’t think anything of it.  There’s more damage to my vehicle than the dumpster.”  When Bloom read him his rights Troughton stated, “No comment.”  Bloom then arrested him based on his assessment that Troughton was impaired.  A subsequent search warrant let to a breath test showing Troughton’s blood alcohol level was a .07% about one hour after the crash.

After a one day trial and about 45 minutes of deliberation, a jury determined Troughton was impaired at the time of driving, and found him guilty of DUII and Reckless Driving.  The case was prosecuted by Benton County Deputy District Attorney, John Vehrs.

“A shout out to the Corvallis Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for their quick and professional work getting defendant off the road.  Defendant only made it a couple of blocks from the bar.  He only hit a dumpster.  In many cases, the consequences of DUII are much more devastating.”  Ryan Joslin, Benton County District Attorney.  “In 2026, there is no excuse to be DUII.  There are other options—request an Uber/Lyft, call a taxi, text a friend, walk, wait, sleep it off.  Decide BEFORE you drink what you will do AFTER you drink.  Everyone thinks better BEFORE they have had a few.”

Benton Count District Attorney Determines North Albany Officer Involved Shooting Was Legally Justified (Photo) - 03/05/26

On January 6^th, two Albany Police Department officers shot and injured 21 year old Maverick Lyon after being dispatched to a residence on a report of one brother being held at knife point by a another brother.  When one of the brothers, Maverick Lyon, quickly exited the residence, holding a large fixed blade knife, Officers Matt Thomas and Engle Diaz fired their pistols in response.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office conducted an independent investigation, led by Lt. David Iverson, and made that evaluation available to my office for consideration.  My Chief DDA, Amie Matusko, has conducted a legal analysis of the matter, which is attached and incorporated by reference here. 

The question to be answered is whether the officers’ decision to fire their duty pistols was based on an objectively reasonable belief that doing so was necessary to prevent serious injury or death to themselves or their fellow officers.

In conducting my evaluation, I have the benefit of hindsight.  I am also privy to more specific information about the events leading up to the shooting than were the officers.  I have the ability to watch video evidence, in slow motion, over and over again, from several different angles.

However, the evaluation must be made in light of what the officers knew and perceived leading up to and at the exact time their decision was made.  In this case, the officers, in real time, had only fractions of a second to decide how to act.

Later investigation revealed that Maverick was the victim being held at knife point by his brother, John “Dakota” Lyon.  Dakota’s criminal acts led to the police being called to the scene.  Dakota has now been charged with kidnapping and other crimes, and will be held accountable for those crimes.

Maverick’s efforts to escape his brother, even while he still held a second knife, unknown to the officers, must be viewed through the lens of the extreme stress and fear he must have felt.  I have read on social media that some have said “the police shot the wrong guy.” In a purely moral sense, no one “deserves” to be shot, least of all the victim who was seeking help.  The fact that things unfolded as they did is an absolute tragedy.  Though I have not spoken with the officers, I am confident they would not have wished it to turn out that way.

Here, though, my duty comes down to answering the legal question.  In this case, it is my determination that the decisions of Officers Thomas and Diaz to fire their duty weapons in this case was based on an objectively reasonable belief that to do so was necessary in order to protect their own lives or the lives of fellow officers.  

Ryan S. Joslin

Benton County District Attorney