Aloha Woman Dies In Apartment Fire -01/18/25

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 2:21 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded alongside Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Hillsboro Fire Department and American Medical Response to a reported apartment fire in the 18600 block of SW Mapleoak Lane in the community of Aloha. The apartments are located within the Cascade Woods apartment complex.

When deputies arrived, they learned that one woman, identified as 64-year-old Robin L. Wilkinson, died as a result of the fire. Her next-of-kin has been notified.

A detective from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to collaborate with fire investigators from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.

The investigation is in its early stages and at this time it is unknown whether any crimes are involved.

Other residents displaced by the fire are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

Banks High School Teacher Arrested For Sexually Abusing Student (Photo) -01/14/25

On the morning of January 8, 2025, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the city of Banks were notified by staff at Banks High School about concerns that a math teacher had sexual contact with a student. Deputies learned the school district was made aware of the allegations on January 7 and immediately placed the teacher, 66-year-old Wymon Smith, on leave. Officials at the high school notified the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline on January 7^th, as required by law.

The case was assigned to detectives in the Violent Crimes Unit, which also handles child abuse investigations. Detectives learned Smith had sexually inappropriate conversations with multiple students and had sexual contact with at least one student on school property.

On the afternoon of January 14, 2025, detectives arrested Smith. Smith was lodged in jail on charges of sexual abuse in the second degree and luring a minor. Oregon law specifies that any sexual contact perpetrated by a teacher or a coach to a student is a felony.

Detectives are concerned there are additional victims and want to speak with anyone who has information about Smith’s concerning behaviors. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.

The Banks School District continues to cooperate with the law enforcement investigation.

The release of Smith’s booking photo is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.

Deputies Arrest Two Men With Stolen Vehicle (Photo) -01/13/25

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 3:34 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle near the 500 block of SW Elderbrook Place in the West Haven neighborhood of unincorporated Washington County. The caller saw two men associated with a Chrysler Pacifica who had flashlights and were checking the door handles of vehicles in the neighborhood.

Responding deputies located the vehicle near SW Spring Crest Drive and SW 95th Avenue. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the driver sped off. As additional deputies arrived in the area, the driver left the roadway and drove through residential backyards before crashing into a ditch.

The driver, 32-year-old Westly Deitas of Portland, was taken into custody at the vehicle. Shortly after, deputies located the passenger, 30-year-old Heamasi Mohulamu of Portland.

Deitas was taken to the Washington County Jail and faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempt to elude, hit and run, reckless driving, reckless endangering, carrying a concealed firearm, and criminal mischief.

Mohulamu was also taken to jail and faces charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, felon in possession of a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance.

The vehicle, a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica, was reported stolen out of Portland, and deputies found a firearm inside.  

Deputies are concerned that additional theft victims have yet to be identified. They encourage community members to contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 if they suspect their vehicle was unlawfully entered on the morning of January 7, 2025, near SW Elderbrook Place. 

Deputies Arrest Man For Robbery From 7-11 -01/08/25

On Monday, January 6, 2025, at 1:11 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a robbery from 7-11 at 19175 SW Tualatin Valley Highway in Aloha.

Deputies learned a man took alcohol from the 7-11 without paying. An employee chased the suspect, 40-year-old Jamie Stradford, outside the store, where Stradford indicated he had a gun. Stradford left the location in a vehicle.

A short time later, deputies located the vehicle, a 2008 Mercedes, at a nearby residence. Stradford was taken into custody, transported to the Washington County Jail, and booked for the following charges.

• Robbery in the second degree
• Menacing
• Theft in the third degree

If you were a witness to this incident and have not yet spoken to police, please contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111, referencing case number 50-25-252. 

Detectives Arrest Fifth Person From April 2024 Sting (Photo) -01/08/25

On April 4, 2024, Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted a child predator sting where investigators used multiple online platforms to pose as underage children. During that sting, investigators had online communication with Joseph Lee Lyons, 33, of Portland. Lyons did not attempt to meet with a child on the date of the sting.

For several months, Lyons continued to engage in sexually explicit conversation with a person he believed to be a child but was actually a detective. In November 2024, a Washington County grand jury indicted Lyons on 6 counts of luring a minor and 4 counts of online sexual corruption of a child in the second degree. Investigators tried to take Lyons into custody but were unable to locate him initially.

On January 3, 2025, Lyons was arrested in Portland and lodged at the Washington County Jail. During a conversation with investigators, Lyons admitted that he has met in person with multiple children that he connected with online.

Detectives would like to speak with anyone who has information about Lyons or his online contact with children. Please contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 503-846-2500 with any tips. 

Four People Arrested in Undercover Child Predator Sting 

April 5, 2024

On April 4, 2024, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office conducted a child predator sting where investigators used multiple dating applications, social media sites, and other online platforms to pose as underage boys and girls. The people contacted the profiles online and offered to meet a person they believed to be a child for sex. When individuals arrived to meet the child, they were instead contacted by law enforcement and arrested.

During the mission, several individuals immediately terminated their conversations when they realized they were speaking to someone who explicitly provided their specific age and identified as a minor.  

The following people were arrested for luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree:

• Matthew P. Goldman, 30, of Tigard
• Jesus Rodriguez-Garcia, 27, of Forest Grove.
• Gerardo Serrano-Garcia, 25, of Hillsboro
• Ruben Olvera-Gaona, 54, of Forest Grove, was also arrested for a warrant out of Washington County for giving false information to a peace officer.

Detectives believe there may be more victims of these individuals. Rodriguez-Garcia made statements while chatting with the decoy that he had engaged in sexual contact with other minors. Anyone with additional information about any of the people is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-846-2700.

The Sheriff’s Office regularly conducts undercover operations, both full-scale stings and day-to-day chats, targeting child predators. The Sheriff’s Office receives thousands of child abuse reports each year, and these proactive missions are designed to identify and contact people before they victimize an actual child. 

Parents are encouraged to help their children be safe online and to be aware of the websites and mobile applications their kids are using. The Sheriff’s Office provides online safety education for parents and community organizations upon request. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Cornelius Police Department and the Lake Oswego Police Department for assisting with the sting.

Caprice Massey Is Sworn In As The Sheriff Of Washington County (Photo) -01/07/25

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Presiding Judge Rebecca Guptill swore Caprice Massey into office as the 33rd Sheriff of Washington County. Judge Guptill codified the 2024 voter’s choice stemming from an appointment to the position by the Washington County Board of Commissioners after the retirement of former Sheriff Pat Garrett in late 2023.

Sheriff Massey’s roots as a native Oregonian, growing up in Eugene, have significantly shaped her experience and professional journey. A Veteran of the United States Navy, she used her military service as a catapult into public safety, first serving in Norfolk, Virginia, before joining the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2004. Twenty years later, she is steering the ship.

Crystalizing her focus, Sheriff Massey is dedicated to working with our community partners to remain the safest urban county in Oregon.  

“I am truly honored to serve the Washington County community as its 33rd Sheriff alongside the hundreds of dedicated professionals of this office. We look forward to continuing our public safety mission.” ~ Sheriff Caprice Massey

Sheriff Massey’s commitment to a transparent partnership with our community is only rivaled by her dedication to addressing concerns for community safety. We look forward to the next four years. 

Deputies Conduct Mission To Combat Liquor Sales To Minors -01/03/25

On Tuesday, December 31, 2024, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a compliance mission to ensure retailers were not selling alcohol to minors.   

During this seven-hour mission, deputies checked twenty retail locations in unincorporated Washington County. In most cases, retailers did not sell alcohol to minors and were thanked for complying with Oregon’s liquor laws.  

Four retailers sold alcohol to the minor decoy. In each of the four locations, the sales clerk was issued a citation for furnishing alcohol to a minor.  

The four locations who sold alcohol to minors were: 

• West Slope Liquor and Beverage 

• New Seasons Market 

• Farmington Mall Liquor Store  

• Plaid Pantry 

Minor decoys are instructed to attempt a purchase of alcohol using their real identification, which depicts them as minors, and to be truthful in any questioning about their age.  

The Sheriff’s Office periodically conducts alcohol compliance missions to stem the sales of alcohol to minors and is grateful for the retailers who refuse to sell.  

Owed DNA Grant Project Completed (Photo) -12/31/24

Washington County, OR – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Lawfully Owed DNA Unit has completed a grant project to collect DNA samples for the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). After being awarded a $974,066 grant in October 2018, the Owed DNA Unit worked to address missing DNA samples from offenders convicted in Washington County as well as create a framework for other jurisdictions to follow, allowing for owed DNA samples to be collected and entered into the CODIS system.

A census of individuals who owe DNA based on a conviction within Washington County identified over 7,000 individuals who had not submitted DNA samples. More than 800 samples have since been collected and entered into CODIS. This resulted in 18 matches between collected samples and evidence from unsolved cases.

Another part of the grant was to identify why samples were missing and implement procedures to prevent missing collections in the future. It was identified that many of the missing samples were from offenders who were sentenced to probation. To address this, WCSO Court Security and the District Attorney’s Office have implemented a policy to collect from individuals at the courthouse following a conviction.

At the time of this press release, WCSO is the only agency in Oregon that has addressed the lawfully owed DNA issue. As such, we created a framework that can be used by other law enforcement agencies to take on this issue within their own jurisdiction. A handbook encompassing all aspects of the grant (i.e. census, verification, collection, documentation, etc.) and best practices has been created for other jurisdictions to adopt in their effort to reduce the number of missing DNA samples. This handbook has been shared with numerous agencies in Oregon as well as nationally.

For further information on this project, please contact Susan Hormann, Forensic Consultant.
Susan_Hormann@washingtoncountyor.gov; 503-730-3926.

Two Arrested For Series Of Mail Thefts (Photo) -12/23/24

On Thursday, December 19, 2024, at around 2:00 p.m., a mail carrier from the United States Postal Service (USPS) reported observing two individuals stealing mail and packages along their delivery route near the 13300 block of NW Dellatorre St. The suspects were seen driving a white Subaru Crosstrek. 

This vehicle description matched an ongoing investigation concerning the use of a stolen or counterfeit USPS postal box key to access community mailboxes in the Cedar Mill and Bethany areas over recent weeks.

Responding deputies located and stopped the Crosstrek. During the stop, deputies found a significant amount of mail and large parcels in the vehicle, none of which belonged to the occupants. The seized mail is currently being processed to identify and notify the victims.

The USPS’s Postal Inspector has been notified and is taking possession of the stolen mail to further the investigation.

The occupants of the vehicle, identified as 24-year-old Brandon Rummerfield of Portland and 31-year-old Michael Fischer of Battle Ground, were taken into custody and have been booked into the Washington County Jail on several charges:

Brandon Rummerfield:

• Mail theft
• Identity theft
• Unlawful possession of fictitious identification

Michael Fischer:

• Mail theft
• Identity theft
• Failure to appear x3
• Outstanding warrant from Washington State

The investigation is ongoing, and many victims have not yet been notified. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Update: Morfin Jr. Indicted For Manslaughter (Photo) -12/23/24

On Friday, December 20, 2024, a Washington County grand jury heard the evidence in this case and indicted Jose Lucas Morfin Jr. on the following charges:

• Manslaughter in the first degree
• Assault in the second degree x2
• Abuse of a corpse in the second degree
• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Felon in possession of a firearm

The family of Mary McDowell’s has provided the following statement:

“As a family, we are deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding the death of our beloved Mary Longway McDowell.  Mary was a sweet, kind, caring soul with a delightful giggle who spent her entire life serving and caring for others. She cared for many family members at the end of their lives including her sister, her late husband, both of her parents and even other residents at her mother’s memory care facility. She was always available to help friends, neighbors, and strangers.  She helped so many people throughout her lifetime, and we are asking the public to help her now.  If you have any information or had contact with her individually or encountered her with her partner, Jose Lucas Morfin Jr. in recent years, please reach out to the detectives assigned to this case.  Details that you might not think are importantly could be very helpful to gain greater understanding of what led up to her death.  We, as a family, also request that the public refrain from speculating about her especially on social media as that is very hurtful to her grieving family members.”

The family has requested privacy during this time and does not wish to participate in interviews.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and have received many tips from the public. Detectives have learned that Morfin Jr. primarily uses his middle name, Lucas. Photos of both Morfin Jr. and Mary McDowell are being shared in hopes of generating additional tips.

The release of Morfin Jr.’s booking photo is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.

Original Release:

Man Arrested After Woman Found Deceased

On Friday, December 13, 2024, at 4:40 a.m., deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of an unresponsive woman near the road outside a house in the 20500 block of SW Edy Road.

Paramedics and deputies responded and found the woman was deceased. She was identified as 64-year-old Mary McDowell, who lived in the home. At the scene, deputies also detained her partner, 38-year-old Jose Lucas Morfin, Jr.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and the interagency Major Crimes Team responded to investigate the death.

Detectives arrested Morfin for assault in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. The investigation into McDowell’s death continues, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information related to this case. If you have details that might assist the investigation, please contact Washington County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111.