Thanks to a generous grant through Oregon Impact and the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Roseburg Police department will be having Officers work shifts that specifically focus on specific traffic offenses. From May 20th through June 2nd, 2019 they will be focusing on seat belt and child restraint usage, texting while driving, and speeding.
Enforce Lifesaving Laws
For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.
On May 9th, 2019 at approximately 2300 hours, Roseburg Police K9 Nike and his handler were called to assist with trying to locate a wanted fugitive in the 5000 block of Eagle Valley Road. The suspect, 22 year old Trevor Slater of Roseburg, fled on foot from a traffic stop when DCSO Deputies pulled him over.
A citizen in the 5100 block of Eagle Valley reported Slater was at their door, but was scared off by their dogs. K9 Nike tracked Slater through blackberries, across a creek, and up a hillside but he continued to elude capture. A neighbor in the 5200 block of Eagle Valley called and said their motion light had activated. K9 Nike continued searching and eventually tracked to a large barn in the area. As they checked the second floor of the barn, K9 Nike and his handler found Slater hiding under a bale of hay. Slater gave up when confronted with Nike barking at him. Slater was ultimately arrested by DCSO and charged with a Parole Violation, Unlawful Possession of Heroin, and Criminal Trespass.
At approximately 1323 hours on Friday, May 10th, 2019 emergency personnel responded to the report of a plane crash at the Roseburg Municipal Airport.
The plane was found heavily damaged in the grassy area on the southeast side of the airport. The pilot, and plane owner, 63 year old Malcom Dayton of Roseburg, was uninjured in the incident. Dayton indicated he was already in contact with the ground in the process of landing, when a cross wind pushed the plane into the grassy area, a wheel broke and then the plane sustained more damage as it whipped around. Dayton said the plane is a 2019 experimental plane.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating the incident, as they do with any aircraft collision. The airport remained open during the investigation.
At approximately 11:22 hours on Friday, May 10th, 2019 the Roseburg Police Department responded to the report of a Bigfoot Beverage vehicle being stolen from the Mercy Hospital parking lot. Officers scoured the area but did not locate the vehicle. At approximately 11:44 hours the vehicle was located by a Sutherlin Police Department Officer driving northbound on Interstate 5 near milepst 138. The Sutherlin Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield. The suspect then took and exit and got back onto Interstate 5 now travelling southbound.
Officers set up at milepost 131 with spike strips, but the suspect stopped prior to the strips and he was arrested without further incident. The suspect, 31 year old Steve Doner of California, was lodged at Douglas County Corrections for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle. The vehicle was returned to Big Foot Beverages.
The Oregon State Police and Douglas County Sheriff's Office assisted with the incident.
On Thursday, May 9th, 2019 at approximately 1451 hours, emergency personnel from the Roseburg Fire Department and Roseburg Police Department responded to a two vehicle collision in the 3800 block of Highway 138 east. It was reported a pickup truck and a passenger car were involved in a head on collision in that area.
The driver of the passenger car, 38 year old Sherri Hu of Myrtle Creek, was transported to Mercy Hospital via ambulance for very serious injuries. Unfortunately, Hu succumbed to her injuries while at the hospital. The driver of the pickup truck was a 17 year old male from Roseburg. He was also transported to Mercy via ambulance and treated for his injuries, and later released.
The Roseburg Police Department is the lead investigating agency of the accident. The Oregon State Police assisted in the investigation by conducting an accident reconstruction and we were also assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation. The highway was reduced to one lane of travel in each direction while the scene was investigated. The road was completely re-opened after 1900 hours.
The investigation is ongoing, and the male is cooperating with the investigators. At this time there is no evidence that either driver was impaired during the collision. According to witness statements, the pickup was driving westbound and for unknown reasons drifted across the center lane and into the eastbound lanes of travel, striking Hu's vehicle, which was driving eastbound. Next of kin have been notified.
On Tuesday evening, April 30th, 2019 the Roseburg Police Department arrested 39 year old Hope Shaw for allegedly stealing a firearm from a Roseburg School District employee's backpack . While Officers were approaching Shaw on a bridge over the South Umpqua river, she allegedly threw the firearm and at least one firearm magazine, over the railing and into the water. Shaw was then arrested without incident and lodged at the Douglas County Correctional center on numerous charges related to the theft.
On Wednesday, May 1st, the Roseburg Police Department contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team to try and recover the firearm from the river. After a brief search, the Search and Rescue team located the firearm in the river and it was recovered and is now in police custody.
On April 25th, 2019 just after 0200 hours Officers with the Myrtle Creek Police Department attempted to apprehend a fugisitve on Weaver Road. The suspect, 24 year old Steven Largent, jumped out of the vehicle he was driving, ran down an embankment, and through brush. A perimeter was established by Myrtle Creek PD and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and K9 Nike with the Roseburg Police Department was called to assist.
K9 Nike tracked Largent along the railroad tracks and up a hill, where he was found hiding in some tall grass. Largent refused to cooperate or come out, so K9 Nike was sent in and performed a biting capture of Largent, who was detained without further incident. Largent was lodged at Douglas County Corrections.