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On November 21, 2020 at 10:45 a.m., the Lane County Sheriff's Office received a report of a burglary at the Creswell Public Works facility off Highway 99 in Creswell. The burglary was discovered by a Creswell Public Works employee when they drove by and noticed the shop bay doors were open when they should have been closed. A blue, 1992 Dodge D20 Cummins truck with Oregon license plate E228034 was stolen along with several power tools. A photo of a similar truck is attached. The photo is NOT of the actual truck.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about this incident or the location of the stolen items or truck to call 541-682-4150 then press 1 and reference case # 20-7982.
On November 22, 2020 shortly after 11:00 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff's Office received a report of an assault at a home at the 22000 block of Fisk Rd. in Noti. The victim (a 73 year old male) was reportedly assaulted by a family member, 44 year old Shawn Stilwell of Noti, and suffered significant facial injuries. The victim was able to get out of the house but the victim's wife, who is on hospice, was reportedly still in the home with Shawn.
Information obtained during the investigation indicated that Shawn was agitated, possibly intoxicated, and had access to weapons. Upon arrival, deputies found Shawn’s vehicle parked about halfway up the long driveway to the home, blocking other vehicles from passing. Deputies attempted to loud hail from their patrol vehicles from behind Shawn’s vehicle but did not get any response from him or the victim's wife.
Due to the unusual way the suspect blocked the driveway, the severity of injuries inflicted upon the victim, and information that Shawn had access to multiple weapons, an armored rescue vehicle was called out to the scene. Deputies were able to use the armored rescue vehicle move Shawn’s car in order to get access to the home, which was in a remote, wooded area. Once deputies were able to get closer to the home they used a PA system again to loud hail into the residence in attempt to get Shawn to come out. Because of the armored rescue vehicle, deputies were able to get close enough to see the victim's wife who appeared to be uninjured. Deputies were also able to see Shawn pacing in the home as they continued to talk with him to try to get him to come out voluntarily.
Shortly after 7:00 a.m. on November 23, 2020, Shawn came to the front porch of the residence with his hands up and was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail on Assault in the second degree, Menacing, and Strangulation.
The victim was not transported to the hospital. The victim's wife was evaluated and thankfully determined to be uninjured.
On November 17, 2020 shortly after 4:30 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff's Office received a report of a missing hunter in the Rock Creek wilderness area in northwestern Lane County. The hunter, 30 year old Tyler Saxon of Creswell, was dropped off in the area the morning of November 17th to go hunting and was supposed to meet up with someone a few hours later and never showed up. Family reported him missing shortly thereafter.
Lane County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue deployed a rescue team to the area and searched all night Tuesday, all day Wednesday and into Thursday. Search and Rescue teams from Linn County, Lincoln County, and Benton County joined the search along with the U.S. Coast Guard who assisted with a helicopter and a team to search from the air.
On November 19, 2020 shortly before 4:00 p.m. Search and Rescue volunteers located Mr. Saxon in a heavily wooded area near where he was dropped off. He was found with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently with searchers as they work on a rescue plan to get him out safely.
Thank you to all of the responding agencies for joining the search efforts!
On Monday, November 16th the Lane County Sheriff’s Office will be teaming up with law enforcement agencies nationwide to kick off the annual Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign which runs through November 29th. Deputies working grant funded overtime will be performing high visibility seat belt enforcement in effort to encourage the use of safety belts for both adults and children, with an emphasis on the opening day of the event, November 16th. The grant is through the Oregon Department of Transportation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2018 there were 9,778 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 56 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6:00 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Grant funded deputies will be out day and night enforcing seat belt laws in effort to decrease serious injury crashes and crash fatalities in Lane County.
“The Click It or Ticket campaign is so important in Lane County where we continue to have high rates of fatalities on our roadways. Without this grant funding we would not be able to provide this type of focused traffic enforcement that can save lives,” said Sheriff Cliff Harrold.
For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.
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Update 10/28/20 at 3:15 p.m.: The man that was fatally struck by a train on October 26, 2020 near Jasper Road has been identified at 70 year old Armand Gagnon of Springfield. Our thoughts go out to Gagnon's family and friends as they grieve.
Previous News Release 10/26/2020:
On October 26, 2020 shortly before 1:00 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff's Office received a report of a train crash involving a pedestrian on Jasper Rd. near Mount Vernon Rd. in Springfield. Deputies responded with Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire and Rescue and located a male near the tracks who was pronounced deceased on scene.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death with the Lane County Medical Examiner's Office. The identity of the deceased has not yet been determined.
Bob Straub Parkway is temporarily closed at Jasper Road as deputies investigate, and is anticipated to be reopened around approximately 4:00 p.m.