We had the great honor today of wishing a happy birthday to a special Roseburg resident. We were told that John Couch is turning 100 years old tomorrow, January 14th.
Mr. Couch is a World War II veteran and is currently living at Bridgewood Rivers Assisted Living in Roseburg. We had a vehicle processional with representatives from the Roseburg Police Department, Roseburg Fire Department, Oregon Army National Guard's Charlie Company, and several of Couch's friends.
Happy Birthday Mr. Couch! Congratulations, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your service to our great Country!
On Friday, January 8th, 2021 around 11:48 AM, Douglas County Communications received a call of an adult male found laying in the Umpqua River near Gaddis Park in Roseburg. The male was reported to be unresponsive, and the people that found him believed he was deceased.
EMS personnel and Roseburg Police Officers responded to the area and the male was confirmed deceased. The Douglas County Medical Examiner and Roseburg Police Detectives assisted with the investigation. There were no obvious signs of foul play. During the investigation it was discovered the male was currently living a transient lifestyle and had been hanging around in that area the past few days. He was positively identified as a 48 year old male from Roseburg.
As this is a death investigation, no further details regarding the incident will be released.
During 2020, Roseburg Police Detectives worked two separate cases involving sexual abuse allegations. Although completely unrelated, both cases involved the adult male suspect sexually abusing minor female victims who were known to them. Both men have been convicted and sentenced to prison for their crimes.
65 year old Glen Jay Essig of Roseburg was convicted of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Measure 11 offense, and was sentenced to 75 months in Oregon State prison.
62 year old Lawrence Walter Jackson, also of Roseburg was convicted of Sodomy in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, both of which are Measure 11 offenses. He was sentenced to 150 months in Oregon State prison.
During the period between December 16th, 2020 and January 2nd, 2021 the Roseburg Police Department participated in a nationwide event to focus on apprehending impaired drivers. Through grant funding made available from Oregon Impact and the Oregon Department of Transportation, there were additional officers working to focus specifically on apprehending impaired drivers. During that approximate two week period 3 people were arrested for suspicion of driving while impaired and 3 people were cited for driving while suspended.
On Tuesday, January 4th, 2021 around 11:10 AM, Roseburg Police, Roseburg Fire and other EMS personnel responded to a single vehicle accident in the 1900 block of Airport Road in Roseburg.
Witnesses said a black 1990 Toyota pickup, towing a flatbed trailer with another Toyota pickup on it, was pulling onto Airport Road from a side street. Witnesses said the pickup accelerated suddenly, going straight across Airport Road, into the ditch and across the railroad tracks before stopping short of the airport fencing as the trailer got stuck on the railroad tracks. Ambulance crews provided emergency care to the driver, a 49 year old male of Roseburg. The male was transported to Mercy Hospital via ambulance, and was later pronounced deceased.
Based on statements from people who had contact with him just prior to the accident, and the circumstances of the accident, it appears he was having a severe medical problem, which is what led to the accident. He had no obvious injuries and it appears his death was unrelated to the accident.
There was no property damage and the vehicle was removed by Roseburg Towing.