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UPDATE - Teenage Girl Missing from Tanasbourne Area Found Safe

On Friday, June 18, 2021 Mianii Webster was located safely. Thank you to everyone who helped in the search.

**** WCSO ****

On June 11, 2021, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a missing 16-year-old girl. Mianii Webster recently moved to Oregon from another state and is unfamiliar with the area. Her father reported Mianii left the family’s home in the Tanasbourne area near NW 185th Avenue & NW Cornell Road on June 8.

Mianii is described as 5’6” tall and approximately 120 lbs. with brown eyes and black hair. She has a gold metal tongue ring and may be wearing blue shoes. She does not have a phone or money and is unfamiliar with public transportation.

If you have any information about Mianii Webster’s whereabouts, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111.

Booking Photo

In May of 2021, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a sex abuse case that took place near a hospital in Portland. The victim reported that she was sexually abused by 58-year-old Jerry Nesseth, of Tigard, back in 2019.

Mr. Nesseth was originally arrested in this case on May 12, 2021 for sex abuse in the third degree, but has since been indicted on sex abuse in the first degree, a Measure 11 crime.

Mr. Nesseth knew his victim through his work with a local church and most recently has worked as a “rafting missionary” with an organization called Oregon Adventure Ministries. Deputies are concerned that Mr. Nesseth has had contact with several young women through this ministry and are asking any other victims to report any abuse to law enforcement.

Anyone with information about this case or any other potential victims, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111. Case No. 50-21-6672

Package Theft Photo

On Monday, June 21, 2021, popular online retailer Amazon will be holding one of it’s biggest and most popular sales of the year – Prime Day. Now a two-day event, many people are expected to shop online for deals. Many other popular online retailers will be offering competing deals as well. With this expected increase in online shopping, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will be targeting package thieves across the county.

Working closely with the United States Postal Inspection Service, detectives with the Property Crimes Unit will be setting up a bait package mission in hopes of catching package thieves in the act.

These decoy packages are equipped with electronic tracking devices that allow deputies to track them after they’ve been stolen.

Detectives use historical theft data to determine which areas have the biggest problems with package thefts and target their efforts accordingly.

Just this week, a package theft was caught on camera in the Quatama neighborhood.

Detectives recommend the following steps to protect your packages:

• Schedule delivers to arrive when you are home
• Have a trusted neighbor or friend pick up your packages
• Deliver packages to shipping stores or an Amazon Locker
• Install a security camera

Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit work proactively throughout the year to combat the problem of package thefts in our community. For the last six years, detectives have placed numerous bait packages throughout Washington County to deter potential package thieves.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office Mental Health Response Team (MHRT) is expanding to provide more specialized mental health services to the community, adding more local police departments to its roster. Until recently, the Sheriff's Office MHRT consists of law enforcement members from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Sherwood Police Department. Recently, a member from the Hillsboro Police Department joined the team. In addition, plans are currently in the works to add a member from the Beaverton, King City, Tigard, and Tualatin Police Departments - making this team a truly multi-agency effort.

MHRT consists of a deputy or officer and an experienced, masters-level trained mental health clinician who responds to calls for service that may have a mental health or crisis component. Now in its eleventh year, this unique county-wide program is a collaborative approach. It offers optimum care to those in need by having a skilled deputy and trained clinician available for immediate intervention anywhere in the county. The goal of MHRT is to connect people with needed treatment services rather than potentially lodging them in jail or taking them to a nearby hospital.

Recently, a family in Washington County called non-emergency dispatch requesting a welfare check for their 30-year-old son, a veteran, experiencing PTSD and suicidal thoughts. An MHRT deputy contacted the veteran by phone, and the veteran agreed to meet with the MHRT unit at his home. The deputy and clinician confirmed he was safe and spoke with him about his suicidal thoughts. The clinician and deputy worked with the veteran to develop a safety plan, including securing firearms and medication in a locked safe and having a family member hold onto the key temporarily. Together, the deputy and clinician arranged for him to connect with services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Additionally, MHRT provided check-in calls to the veteran until his scheduled appointment at the VA.    

You can learn more about MHRT in this Sheriff's Office Special Teams Spotlight video.

Booking Photo

In March 2021, Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives opened an investigation into 58-year-old Henry Stephen “Steve” Bauer after receiving a report from a woman that Mr. Bauer sexually abused her when she was a child.

On May 27, 2021, a grand jury indicted Mr. Bauer on four counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

On June 2, 2021, detectives with the sheriff’s office Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) arrested Mr. Bauer at his home. He was lodged at the Washington County Jail.

During their investigation, detectives learned that Mr. Bauer has a lengthy history of volunteering with various organizations where he had access to children. Mr. Bauer’s concerning behavior with children dates back to the late 1970s. He was removed as a Boy Scout leader in 1993 amid allegations of abuse to a young boy. Mr. Bauer also has ties to the Rockaway Beach community, as well.

Detectives strongly believe that Mr. Bauer has other victims that have not made reports to law enforcement. Mr. Bauer has known connections to the following organizations:

• Boy Scouts of America Troops 1 and 150 (1970s-1993)
• Alpenrose Dairyville
• Neah-Kah-Nie High School (2009-2012)
• Portland Revels (2013-2021)
• Rockaway Beach Police Department (volunteer until 2017)
• Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts (TAPA)

Detectives would like to hear from anyone with information about Mr. Bauer, regardless of the length of time it has been. Community members can contact Washington County Sheriff’s Office by calling (503) 846-2700.

Seized Weapons

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 4:47 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a theft in progress at the Sylvan Heights Condos located at 7600 Southwest Barnes Road in the West Haven-Sylvan community.

A resident of the complex reported that two persons had broken into a parked vehicle and were then seen leaving in a separate vehicle. They described the vehicle as an unlicensed silver 2005 GMC Yukon.

At 4:51 a.m., deputies assigned to the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD) located the Yukon in the complex parking lot attempting to leave. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed. The driver stopped the vehicle after he was confronted by additional deputies at the exit to the complex.

The driver, 28-year old Patrick DaCosta, and passenger, 31-year old Caitlin Kent, both of Portland, were placed into custody.

Deputies learned that the Yukon was stolen. Inside the vehicle, deputies located a loaded .22 caliber handgun in the center console and a loaded .38 caliber revolver under the driver seat. In the trunk, deputies located a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle stolen from a residence in Portland in 2017, over 450 rounds of various pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition, and stolen property from multiple nearby residents.

Mr. DaCosta was lodged at the Washington County Jail on the following list of charges:

• Felon in possession of firearm (four counts)
• Identity theft (two counts)
• Theft in the third degree (three counts)
• Theft in the first degree
• Reckless driving
• Attempt to elude in a vehicle
• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle

Ms. Kent was cited and released for the following charges:

• Possession of a stolen vehicle
• Unlawful entry into a motor vehicle

The Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District (ESPD) provides law enforcement services for more than 215,000 residents in the urban areas outside of cities in Washington County, including Bethany, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills, Aloha, Reedville, Garden Home, Metzger, Rock Creek, Raleigh Hills, Bull Mountain, Bonny Slope, West Slope, Oak Hills, and more. Voters first approved the ESPD in 1987 and all local option levies since then.

Mr. Brown

Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies and detectives continue to search for 76-year-old Ralph Brown, who has been missing from Cornelius since Sunday, May 16, 2021. On the evening he was reported missing, deputies immediately entered Mr. Brown into local and national law enforcement databases identifying him as missing and endangered. Mr. Brown's vehicle, a 2014 Blue Nissan Sentra with Oregon plate 319KQV, was also listed in the same databases. If any law enforcement officer enters Mr. Brown's name, driver's license number, vehicle's license plate, or vehicle identification number (VIN) into one of the databases, they will be notified that Mr. Brown is a missing and endangered person.

Each missing person case is unique. WCSO personnel has canvassed Newberg, Oregon, Mr. Brown's last known location determined by GPS signals from his cell phone (map attached). Deputies and detectives have searched on foot, in vehicles, via drones (some equipped with forward-looking infrared or commonly known as FLIR), by boats (some equipped with sonar), and air. Since the evening he went missing, he has not turned on his cell phone or completed any financial activities. Additionally, Mr. Brown's Sentra is not equipped with any form of GPS.

Detectives have also checked area hospitals, airports, and frequently visited locations where Mr. Brown has been. Additionally, detectives continue to review Mr. Brown's cell phone activity and financial records and investigate new leads from community members.

Detectives continue to ask for the community's help in locating Mr. Brown. To date, we have had reports from community members saying they have seen Mr. Brown, but none of the sightings have been confirmed. Washington County Search and Rescue Supervisor Sgt. Jesse Baker says, "If Mr. Brown's vehicle is located, it can be an essential start location for a Search and Rescue operation."

Tomorrow morning, Thursday, June 3, 2021, searchers from the Washington County Search and Rescue Team will be searching the Hess Creek area south of Newberg.

If a community member has any information about Mr. Brown, please contact your local law enforcement agency right away.

On June 3, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., the Washington County Sheriff's Office and family members of Mr. Brown will be holding a press conference in front of the Sheriff's Office located at 215 SW Adams Avenue in Hillsboro. Please Email the Sheriff's Office PIO to RSVP.

We want to extend our thanks to several outside agencies who have provided assistance in this critical investigation. They include the Astoria Police Department, the Benton County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Civil Air Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oregon State Parks, the Oregon State Sheriff's Association, the Oregon State University Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Washington State Patrol, the Western Oregon University Department of Campus Public Safety, the Newberg Police Department, the Forest Grove Police Department, and the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.

Update: Detectives Ask for Public's Help Locating Missing and Endangered Man 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide an update on the search for 76-year-old Ralph Brown who has been missing from Cornelius since Sunday.

Detectives are continuing to follow up on leads, including some in the Newberg area, but stress Mr. Brown could be anywhere at this point.

On Monday, May 17th, deputies received a tip from a community member who said they saw Mr. Brown in his blue 2014 Nissan Sentra in the Newberg Area. Detectives are requesting that anyone who lives along the Willamette River or near Rogers Landing County Park in Newberg to check around for Mr. Brown and his car. The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and other local police departments have been notified of this missing persons case.

Please continue to keep an eye out for Mr. Brown and report any information regarding his location to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies Ask for the Public's Help Locating a Missing and Endangered Man

On Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies serving the city of Cornelius learned 76-year-old Ralph Brown was missing. Mr. Brown was last seen leaving his home near the 600 block S 12th Avenue in the City of Cornelius shortly before deputies were called. Family told deputies Mr. Brown left in his 2014 Blue Nissan Sentra (Oregon Plate: 319KQV).

Mr. Brown is approximately 5'10", 210 lbs., has gray hair with blue eyes, and is missing the tip of his right-hand index finger. Mr. Brown's family says he has memory issues and may struggle to find his way home.

If you know of Mr. Brown's whereabouts, please call non-emergency dispatch at (503) 629-0111.

Eddy F. Alvizures Booking Photo

On Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 7:36 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a disturbance with a weapon in the 2800 block of SW 214th Avenue in the community of Aloha.

Deputies learned that two men were arguing in an apartment where others were present. During the argument, one male produced a handgun and pointed it at the other occupants of the apartment. One resident was able to escape to a neighbor’s apartment. A gunshot was then heard. The two males who had been arguing both left the scene prior to the arrival of the deputies.

The investigation also revealed that at the time of the shooting, a male had been napping on a couch inside the apartment. The bullet came within three feet of striking the male. Fortunately, no one was injured. Ballistic evidence was recovered from the location, but no firearm was found.

Today, while following up on the investigation, deputies were able to identify the shooter as Eddy F. Alvizures, 30, of Hillsboro. Deputies spotted Mr. Alvizures in the area of SW 187th Avenue and SW TV Highway. Patrol deputies and members of the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT) and Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) took him into custody. A loaded firearm was found in his possession and is believed to be the weapon involved in yesterday’s shooting. The investigation is ongoing.

Mr. Alvizures was lodged at the Washington County Jail on the following charges:

• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Menacing
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person

He is currently being held without bail.

The Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT) is an interagency, highly skilled, and well-equipped tactical unit that responds to extremely hazardous situations where conventional police tactics and equipment may be inadequate. Also known as SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), TNT is made up of Sheriff’s Office deputies and police officers from other departments in Washington County.

Store photo 3

On Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 4:25 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies serving the City of Cornelius responded to an unwanted person call at the Walmart store located at 220 N Adair Street. It was reported that a male was trying to start a fire inside the store.

When deputies arrived on scene, they noticed many customers exiting the store. They quickly located a male standing over a small fire, which he started by lighting greeting cards and other paper goods on fire. The male had also knocked over several displays.

Deputies and Cornelius Fire Department personnel quickly extinguished the fire. Fortunately, no one was injured. The fire caused several hundred dollars in damage to merchandise and displays.

Deputies arrested 30-year-old Matthew J. Holt and lodged him at the Washington County Jail on the following allegations:

• Arson I
• Recklessly Endangering Another
• Parole Violation

Gun

On Friday, May 28, 2021, at 5:44 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report that four males had just stolen a car from the International School of Beaverton. When deputies arrived at the school, located in the 17700 block of SW Blanton Street in the community of Aloha, they learned that the males stole a set of car keys and then drove off in the victim’s car.

Less than 15 minutes later, a patrol deputy located the stolen vehicle, which had crashed at the intersection of SW 178th Avenue and SW Shaw Street. Deputies contained the area and searched for the suspects. At 6:07 p.m., an alert deputy spotted the four suspects in the 18300 block of SW Kinnaman Road.

All four were detained and now face charges of robbery in the second degree. One of the suspects had an altered BB gun with a magazine filled with actual bullets.

Due to their ages, none of the suspects will be identified. All four were lodged at the Donald E. Long Detention Center in Portland.

Social Graphic

On Friday, May 28, 2021, law enforcement officers from several local agencies will join forces for a targeted DUII enforcement mission along major roadways in Washington County. National statistics show an increase in the number of traffic fatalities, including a higher death rate during holiday weekends like Memorial Day. This two-day mission is designed to educate and deter people from getting behind the wheel while impaired and to take enforcement against impaired drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day – that’s one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, these deaths reached the lowest percentage since 1982 when NHTSA started reporting alcohol data, but more than 10,000 people still lost their lives. These deaths were all preventable.

On Friday and Saturday, deputies, troopers, and officers will saturate the area to focus on drivers impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any controlled substances. Officers trained as drug recognition experts will be on scene to evaluate drivers who are under the influence of controlled substances, such as marijuana.

The following agencies are scheduled to participate:

• Beaverton Police Department
• Forest Grove Police Department
• Hillsboro Police Department
• Sherwood Police Department
• Oregon State Police
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office

The agencies will be supported by dispatchers from the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency (WCCCA).

If you decide to celebrate the holiday weekend with alcohol or drugs, please be safe and avoid getting behind the wheel. Make plans beforehand to get a ride from a sober friend, use public transportation, call a taxi, or use a ridesharing service.

On January 25, 2018, detectives located the remains of 28-year-old Sara Zghoul in a parked car in the community of Aloha. Ms. Zghoul’s death was ruled a homicide, and at the time of the investigation, some of Ms. Zghoul’s remains were still unaccounted for.

Detectives identified the suspect in Ms. Zghoul’s murder as 35-year-old Jeremiah Johnston of Aloha, who was arrested later that night.

In December 2019, Mr. Johnston pled guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree abuse of a corpse related to the murder of Ms. Zghoul. Mr. Johnston was consequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 65 years, at which time Mr. Johnson will be 101 years of age. 

On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit located Ms. Zghoul’s missing remains, and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified them as Ms. Zghoul.

The lead detective on the case said, “I am happy we were able to reach a complete resolution in this case, and I hope this helps Ms. Zghoul’s family obtain some closure in this tragic loss they have had to endure.”

Ms. Zghoul’s family has asked community members and media to respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Members of the Violent Crimes Unit are called upon to investigate serious violent crimes such as homicides, suspicious deaths, adult sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, extortion, serious assaults, elder abuse, and missing persons.

Suspect Photo 1

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at around 1:52 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a three-car crash on Tualatin Valley Hwy. Near SW 170th Avenue in the community of Aloha. As deputies arrived, they saw several vehicles were involved in the crash, including a 2015 Volkswagen Passat, driven by 29-year-old Kenrry Bay. While investigating the crash, deputies saw signs that led them to believe Mr. Bay may be intoxicated.

A witness to the crash told deputies that Mr. Bay had thrown a bag into nearby bushes before they arrived. Deputies located the bag and found a CO2-powered BB gun, alcohol, and narcotic paraphernalia inside. The alert deputies also recognized Mr. Bay and his vehicle from the armed robbery call at the Chevron gas station Tuesday night.

Mr. Bay was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries, where he was treated and released. The others involved in the crash were not injured.

Mr. Bay was lodged in the Washington County Jail for robbery in the second degree, driving under the influence of intoxicants, menacing, theft in the second degree and criminal driving while suspended on a misdemeanor level.

Detectives from the Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Unit assisted deputies with this investigation and played a pivotal role in the apprehension of Mr. Bay. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit are called upon to investigate serious violent crimes such as homicides, suspicious deaths, adult sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, extortion, serious assaults, elder abuse, and missing persons.

On Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at around 7:30 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an armed robbery call at the Chevron gas station located at 19165 SW Tualatin-Valley Hwy. Workers at the gas station reported that an unidentified customer robbed them with a black handgun in his waistband.

The male suspect is described as having black hair and beard, with his hair in a bun under a baseball hat. The suspect was wearing black latex gloves. He left in a newer dark blue VW Passat, headed eastbound on SW Tualatin-Valley Hwy.

If you have any information about this man’s identity, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111. Case No. 50-21-7047.

Booking Photo

On May 13, 2021, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies began investigating a stalking case in the community of Aloha after a woman reported that her ex-boyfriend had tried to break into her apartment overnight.

Around the same time, the Beaverton Police Department got a phone call from an out-of-state witness who was receiving messages from the suspect. Deputies identified 21-year-old Conner Charriere as the person who tried to break into the apartment and sent the messages.

Those messages contained Mr. Charriere’s detailed plan to use GPS trackers and lock picking equipment to kidnap the woman and then shoot and kill her.

Deputies immediately went to Mr. Charriere’s house in the 10500 block of NW Leahy Rd., in the community of Cedar Mill. Mr. Charriere was arrested, and detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the home.

Detectives were granted a warrant to search the house. Inside, they found the gun, extra ammunition, zip ties, duct tape, lock picking tools, and the packaging for a GPS tracker. Detectives later found the GPS tracker on a car connected to the victim.

On May 20, a Washington County grand jury indicted Mr. Charriere for the following charges:

• Attempted murder in the second degree
• Attempted kidnapping in the first degree (two counts)
• Attempted burglary in the first degree (four counts)
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Stalking
• Unlawful use of a global positioning system devise

If you have additional information about Mr. Charriere, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-846-2700. The Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the Beaverton Police Department for their help with this investigation.

Members of the Violent Crimes Unit are called upon to investigate serious violent crimes such as homicides, suspicious deaths, adult sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, extortion, serious assaults, elder abuse, and missing persons.

Booking Photo

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 11:35 a.m., patrol deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a disturbance at a retail store in the 3400 block of SW Knowlton Road in Cedar Hills, which is part of the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District (ESPD). The first deputy arrived in less than one minute.

Witnesses reported an adult female shoved a nine-year-old child at the location, forcing him to the ground and into the side of a parked vehicle - causing abrasions to his knees. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured. Witnesses also said the woman uprooted plants on the store's exterior.

Deputies contacted the woman and identified her as 31-year-old Lacy E. Lenahan. Ms. Lenahan told deputies she specifically shoved the child because of his race, and when she was in the store, she intentionally threw an item at someone because of their race. Throughout her conversation with investigators, she continued to use hateful and derogatory language when describing people of this race.

Ms. Lenahan was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail on the following charges:

• Bias Crime in the second degree
• Harassment
• Criminal Mischief in the second degree

In Oregon, bias crimes are committed based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. A bias incident is any hostile expression that may be motivated by those same factors.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Washington County District Attorney's Office are strongly committed to investigating and prosecuting bias crimes in our community. Initial reports should be made to law enforcement by calling 503-629-0111.

Bias crimes and incidents can also be reported to the Oregon Department of Justice at 1-844-924-BIAS (1-844-924-2427) or online at https://justice.oregon.gov/CrimeReporting/BiasCrime.