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UPDATE 05/25/2023 5:10 PM
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue crews have located Mr. Stern and he is safe. The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the public for their assistance and awareness regarding this case. No further details are available at this time.
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ORIGINAL RELEASE 05/25/2023 10:05 AM
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - A Milwaukie, Oregon man believed to be at risk has been reported missing the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
71-year-old Robert “Bob” Anthony Stern of Milwaukie, Oregon was last heard from at approximately 1030 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. At that time, he indicated he was going turkey hunting in the Umpqua Unit. He has not been in contact with anyone since that time. His cell phone is currently powered off or out of service range. Deputies located an image of his vehicle taken in Myrtle Creek, Oregon the same day he was last heard from around 2:50 p.m.
Stern who is 6'01", 300 lbs with white hair and hazel eyes. He is believed to have been wearing camo clothing and dark boots. There are concerns that Stern may be suffering from a medical condition or event. He should be driving his 2008 Red Dodge Dakota extended cab pickup with Oregon license plate 787EKB. There are white stickers depicting ducks on the back window and a silver toolbox in the bed of the pickup.
Anyone with information which may help in locating Stern is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 541-440-4471 referencing case #23-1916.
IDLEYLD PARK, Ore. - On Friday, May 19, 2023, at 5:26 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers began receiving reports of a disturbance in the 100 block of Idleyld Park Lane in Idleyld Park. As deputies were responding, it was reported that a male was making threats toward others and carrying a brick. A subsequent report was made that gunshots were heard, and that the male was carrying multiple firearms.
Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 5:49 a.m. They began challenging the male, identified as 55-year-old Henry Charles McQuatters of Glide, who was in possession of two firearms. A subsequent radio transmission by deputies indicated shots had been fired by law enforcement.
McQuatters was transported to Mercy Medical Center for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was later discharged and taken into custody by detectives on charges of First Degree Burglary, Attempted First Degree Burglary, Fourth Degree Assault, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
His wife, 62-year-old Glide resident Cindy Kay McQuatters, was also arrested by Detectives for Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Interfering with a Police Officer, Hindering Prosecution, Obstructing Governmental Administration, and Resisting Arrest.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is investigating the officer involved shooting, with the Oregon State Police assigned as the lead investigating agency for the shooting incident. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
Detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are investigating the related criminal case preceding the officer involved shooting.
The involved deputy, whose identity is being withheld at this time, has been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave as a normal procedure while the shooting is investigated.
Any additional information related to the officer involved shooting will be released by the Oregon State Police. Any witnesses who have not yet provided statements to law enforcement are encouraged to contact Douglas County Communications at (541) 440-4471.
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Sheriff's Office will be hosting its annual Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony today, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 9:30 am on the front lawn of the Douglas County Court House. Members of the media are encouraged to attend the ceremony which will last approximately 15 minutes paying tribute to Douglas County's fallen law enforcement officers.
- Officer Donald DeSues - Roseburg Police Department - EOW August 7, 1959
- Special Deputy Ronald H. Terwilliger - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
- Corporal Virgle D. Knight Jr. - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
- Sergeant Gerald G. Chirrick - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
- Deputy Morris L. Taylor - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW September 14, 2002
- Deputy S. Allen Burdic – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – EOW March 11, 2021
The ceremony will include bagpipes, an interagency honor guard team, a special radio broadcast and a 21-gun salute.
TENMILE, Ore. - On Sunday, May 14, 2023, at approximately 12:44 p.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers began receiving reports of a swimmer in distress at Ben Irving Reservoir. At the same time, a Douglas County Marine Deputy who was working on the waterway, radioed that a distressed swimmer had gone under the water. The deputy had attempted to assist the swimmer without success.
Deputies later learned the swimmer was 15-year-old Myles Martin Swenson of Tenmile and was presumed drowned. Efforts to locate Swenson by divers and rescuers were unsuccessful on Sunday after extensive above and underwater searching.
On Monday, May 15, 2023, efforts to locate Swenson resumed. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Douglas County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Dive Team, Klamath County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue and the Oregon State Police. With the use of Klamath County's specialized sonar equipment, divers were deployed to a specific area where they located Swenson from the reservoir.
The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office responded and is conducting a death investigation.
On Sunday, additional assistance was received from Douglas County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Dive Team, Oregon State Police, Douglas County Fire District #2, Tenmile Rural Fire Department and Winston-Dillard Fire Department.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will be hosting its last free boat safety inspection clinic of the year on Saturday. The clinic will be in the gravel parking lot of the Douglas County Fairgrounds between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
This is a free opportunity to have a boat of any kind inspected to ensure it meets all legal requirements for the upcoming boating season. This is a great way to ensure boaters have all of the required safety equipment, learn about lifejacket safety or boating laws and ask any boating related questions of marine deputies.
The motorized inspection process will include checking for:
• Approved life jackets
• Working fire extinguishers
• Approved Type IV floatation devices
• Approved sound producing devices
• Working engine blower fans (if required)
• Assist with proper placement of Oregon registration numbers and registration stickers
Deputies can also answer questions about non-motorized boats and the requirements pertaining to them. Any non-motorized boat, including paddlecraft, 10' or longer are required to have a waterway access permit.
If the boat passes inspection, a 2023 inspection sticker will be issued.
ROSEBURG, Ore. – A Roseburg man has died while in custody at the Douglas County Jail.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at approximately 7:19 am, a deputy discovered that a male adult in custody (AIC) was not responsive. Deputies summoned emergency services, who confirmed the AIC, identified as 45-year-old Thomas Phillip Vorhis of Roseburg, was deceased.
Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin requested the assistance of the Roseburg Police Department, an outside agency, to investigate the circumstances of the death. An autopsy will be performed on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas. Currently there are no indications of foul play, although the investigation is ongoing.
“I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Vorhis’ loved ones,” Sheriff Hanlin said. “Any death that occurs in the Corrections facility is taken seriously and fully investigated. I wish to thank the Roseburg Police Department for independently investigating this death and for their careful and thoughtful review of the facts.”
Any further information will be released by the Roseburg Police Department.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is investigating the homicide of a Roseburg woman who died Sunday in the Green District.
On Sunday, April 30, 2023, around 2:30 p.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers were notified of a reported homicide at a residence in the 4000-block of Carnes Road in the Green District. Deputies responded along with officers from the Winston and Roseburg Police Departments. Deputies detained a man at the scene, later identified as 45-year-old William James Tiemann of Roseburg. Upon entering the residence, deputies located 52-year-old Roseburg resident Tonya Cathleen Ball, who had suffered fatal injuries.
Tiemann was later booked into the Douglas County Jail on a charge of Second-Degree Murder.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is investigating the homicide, with the Sheriff's Office assigned as the lead investigating agency. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are expected to be released at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 541-440-4458 referencing Case #23-1571.