PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE: 

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Douglas County Dog Advisory Control Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (Justice Building - Room 210), located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue, Roseburg, Oregon 97470.

The agenda meeting agenda can be located at: www.dcso.com/dogboard

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Frank John James

YONCALLA, Ore. - A man was arrested Friday after crashing into a mobile home and stripping naked, sparking several calls to 9-1-1. 

On January 8, 2021, at 10:54 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers began receiving reports of a motorhome which hit a travel trailer in the Eagle Valley RV Park (221 Eagle Valley Road). The driver of the motorhome began confronting other drivers and people in the area. At one point the male attempted to open the door to another trailer in the park and stole a cell phone from a bystander with force. Callers then began reporting the male stripped nude and began hitting the windshield of another vehicle. 

A deputy arrived on scene at approximately 10:57 am and attempted to defuse the situation, but the male was acting erratically. The deputy's attempts to de-escalate the situation were unsuccessful. The deputy deployed his TASER, which allowed the male to be taken into custody safely and without further incident.

The male was identified as 39 year-old Frank John James (city of residence is unknown). Deputies learned that James had been the subject of multiple driving complaints and was reported to have struck multiple vehicles on Interstate 5 while traveling south from Cottage Grove. Oregon State Police Troopers had been responding to the area to locate the motorhome. After exiting the freeway, James struck an ODOT truck head-on and drove away from the scene. He then entered the RV Park and attempted to strike a pedestrian with the motorhome before crashing into the travel trailer. Deputies also discovered an adult female, who was James' girlfriend, had been a passenger in the RV. The passenger had asked James to stop and let her out, but he did not and continued driving.  

Deputies discovered James had caused significant damage to the travel trailer, which was occupied at the time of the collision, although the occupants were not injured. Additional damage occurred to the park's waterline and another vehicle. James was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges: 

• Attempted Assault in the First Degree x2
• Criminal Mischief in the First Degree x3
• Robbery in the Third Degree
• Reckless Endangering x3
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
• Assault in the Fourth Degree
• Theft in the Second Degree
• Interfering with a Peace Officer
• Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
• Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver - Misdemeanor 

Additionally, the Oregon State Police investigated the crimes which occurred on Interstate 5 and the incident involving the ODOT truck. Further charges against James were levied by Troopers for the following crimes:

• Reckless Endangering x2
• Reckless Driving x2
• Domestic Harassment
• Assault in the Fourth Degree

James remains in custody in the Douglas County Jail.  

Delbert Wayne Hopper

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – On December 28, 2020, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation related to a sexual abuse allegation. The report was an adult male committed sexual abuse against a minor child. An additional report was made that the same male had committed sexual abuse acts against another person approximately sixteen years prior.

Detectives contacted the suspect, 70 year-old Delbert Wayne Hopper of Crooked River Ranch (Oregon), and conducted an interview with him on Friday, January 8, 2021. During the course of the interview, detectives developed probable cause for his arrest. Hopper was taken into custody and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on two separate charges of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

Hopper was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the listed charges.

Sheriff Hanlin takes his oath of office administered by County Clerk Dan Loomis

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Sheriff John Hanlin was sworn into office for his fourth term on Monday, January 4, 2021, at the Douglas County Courthouse. 

Sheriff Hanlin was first elected to office in 2008 after the previously elected Sheriff, Chris Brown, accepted a position with another agency. Hanlin assumed office in January 2009 as the County's 48th Sheriff. At the end of his first term, Sheriff Hanlin ran unopposed and was re-elected in 2012, 2016 and again in 2020. 

Hanlin has the honor of being the most elected Sheriff in Douglas County history, and soon will become the longest serving Sheriff in Douglas County as of August 2021.  

Retired Sheriff Ira Byrd currently holds the honor of longest serving Sheriff. Sheriff Byrd was initially appointed as Sheriff in 1955 and was later elected two more times. He retired after serving for 12 years and 6 months in the position from April 1955-October 1967. Retired Sheriff John Pardon also served an impressive 12 years from January 1989 until his retirement in January 2001. John Hanlin was hired as a deputy under Sheriff Pardon’s administration.

Sheriff Hanlin stated he is humbled to hold the office. "During my tenure as Sheriff there have certainly been some difficult and challenging times, but there has also been many gratifying and fulfilling accomplishments," he said. "I am both deeply grateful and honored to serve as your Sheriff for another term". Sheriff Hanlin also noted he is most thankful for the support of the community that law enforcement receives in Douglas County. 

BIOGRAPHY

Sheriff John Hanlin is a native Douglas County resident, born and raised in the Roseburg area. Hanlin graduated from Glide High School in 1980. Following graduation, he worked for the Douglas Forest Protective Association and attended Umpqua Community College. In 1983, he moved to Bend, Oregon, where he attended Central Oregon College. In 1986, he earned an A.S. Degree in Computer Information Systems and returned to Douglas County.

Upon his return to Douglas County, Hanlin continued his employment with Douglas Forest Protective Association as a Forest Officer, before being hired by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in 1989.

During his tenure at DCSO, he has served as a Patrol Deputy in the South County and Roseburg Patrol Offices, as a Street Crimes Unit Investigator and as a narcotics detective. Hanlin was also an active member of the Sheriff's Office Tactical Response Team (TRT) for more than 12 years. In April of 2001, he was assigned to the position of Commander of the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT). In August of 2005, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to command the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Detectives Division, a position he held until being elected to the Office of Sheriff. 

Sheriff Hanlin places the Sheriff's Citizen Medal of Valor around Scott Pettibone's neck

ROSEBURG, Ore. - A Canyonville man was recognized by Sheriff Hanlin on Monday for actions he took in earlier this year at the scene of a vehicle crash in a small COVID compliant ceremony. 

On February 19, 2020, at approximately 7:00 PM, Scott Pettibone was traveling in the 2500 block of Canyonville Riddle Road when he observed the glow of a small fire off the side of the road.  As he got closer, he realized the fire was the result of a vehicle which had caught fire after crashing head-on into a tree. 

Pettibone stopped his vehicle to investigate and observed the shadow of a person inside the crashed car.  The driver of the crashed car was trapped in the vehicle and was pounding on the window screaming for help as the cab filled up with smoke.  Despite the engine compartment and a portion of the cab being on fire; Pettibone was able to get the driver's side door open, remove the victim and carry him to safety on the other side of the road. Pettibone then returned to the car to check for additional victims before calling 911 at which time the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.

On Monday, December 21, 2020, Sheriff Hanlin presented Pettibone with the Sheriff's Citizen Medal of Valor for his actions. 

"Scott Pettibone demonstrated, in great degree, the qualities of selflessness and personal courage on that day," Sheriff Hanlin remarked. "There are no doubts that the victim would have perished in the vehicle fire if it weren’t for the decisive actions of Mr. Pettibone".

Pettibone, age 49, received a medal and a pin for his actions. The Sheriff's Medal of Valor is is the most distinguished award presented to a civilian. 

Commissioners Tim Freeman, Chris Boice, Tom Kress and District Attorney Rick Wesenberg were in attendance at the presentation ceremony. 

Jeffrey Jay Fahey

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - A Portland man is in custody following a two hour slow speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle Thursday afternoon. 

On Thursday, December 17, 2020, around 12:00 pm, a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black 1991 Toyota Celica which was displaying the wrong license plate on Interstate 5 near milepost 88 northbound. The driver, later identified by law enforcement as 47-year-old Jeffrey Jay Fahey of Portland, failed to stop for the deputy which resulted in a vehicle pursuit. Fahey lead deputies off of Interstate 5, onto Upper Cow Creek Road, through forest roads over the mountain and down onto Tiller Trail Highway at mostly slow speeds. Spike strips were deployed three times, each attempt successful, although Fahey continued to attempt to elude deputies.

At 1:50 pm, the vehicle failed in the 21000 block of Tiller Trail Highway and came to a stop. Fahey fled from the vehicle on foot, but was captured by deputies a short distance later. He was taken into custody without further incident. 

Deputies learned the vehicle had been stolen, but had not yet been reported to law enforcement. Fahey was transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged on the following charges: 

• Attempt to Elude - Vehicle
• Unlawful Use of a Vehicle
• Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
• Reckless Drive
• Reckless Endangering
• Escape III
• Disorderly Conduct II 
• Theft II
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Interfere with a Police Officer
• Obstructing Governmental / Judicial Administration
• Warrant

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Myrtle Creek Police Department, Roseburg Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police.