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August 9, 2018 – Two people were arrested after a weeks-long drug dealing investigation at a mobile home park in Cornelius. Over 80 grams of methamphetamine and eight firearms were seized.
In mid-July, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies serving the City of Cornelius received information regarding possible narcotics dealing from a residence at the Forest Hills Mobile Estates, located at 570 North 10th Avenue.
Deputies contacted the Westside Inter-Agency Narcotics (WIN) Team, who began investigating further. During a three-week period, WIN investigators conducted three controlled drug buys from the home for methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.
On Tuesday, August 7 at 12:00 p.m., WIN investigators and Cornelius deputies served a search warrant on the mobile home. During the search, over 80 grams of methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and prescription pills were located. Six rifles and two handguns were also seized from the residence. Two occupants were located inside and arrested.
Clyde Edwards III, 67 of Cornelius, was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and eight counts of felon in possession of a weapon.
Brittany Ridgeway, 24 of Cornelius, was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and second-degree failure to appear.
WIN is an inter-agency task force comprised of personnel from the police departments of Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard, the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the Oregon National Guard Counter-Drug Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Agency. [Learn more about WIN]
August 2, 2018 – During enhanced patrols in the month of July, deputies arrested 76 individuals for impaired driving. That equates to an average of over two DUII arrests each day. Eleven of those arrested involved drug-related impairment.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that impaired driving is one hundred percent preventable and can cost those charged upwards of $10,000. Please always drive sober or plan a safe ride home ahead of time.
The original media release below.
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Results: Deputies Arrest 22 Impaired Drivers During Holiday, Continue Enhanced Patrols Through July
July 9, 2018 – During enhanced holiday patrols between the dates of July 1 and July 8, deputies arrested 22 individuals for impaired driving. Seven of those arrests occurred between the afternoon of July 3 to the early morning of July 5.
In partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Oregon State Sheriff's Association (OSSA), the Sheriff’s Office will continue enhanced impaired driving patrols through the end of July.
With the summer season upon us, marine patrol deputies would also like to remind the public to also stay sober while out on the water. Operating a boat while impaired, even those non-motorized, is a crime. In addition, using water skis, surfboard or similar device while under the influence is prohibited. [read more]
The Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable summer. Whether on the roadways or waterways, please travel sober.
August 2, 2018 – Deputies serving the City of Cornelius are asking for the public’s assistance identifying the “Masked Pirate", the suspect in a business burglary that occurred in late July.
On July 23, 2018, at 10:05 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies serving the City of Cornelius responded to a burglary that had occurred overnight at the Last Lap, located at 1515 North Adair Street in Cornelius. Employees arrived to find a safe stolen from the location, with over $4,000 in cash believed to have been inside.
Upon review of surveillance video, deputies observed a suspect enter through a side door after business hours. The suspect was disguised in a pirate mask that included a fake eye patch, parrot, and beard. He entered the store partially dressed with a t-shirt worn only across his shoulders while holding a fire extinguisher. After examining a safe on the floor, the Masked Pirate disabled the inside surveillance camera.
Deputies believe the suspect removed the safe using a hand truck and fled in a stolen white pickup, which was later found abandoned with its license plates stripped in western Washington County.
Video from the incident can be viewed through WCSO Cornelius' Facebook and Twitter pages, and downloaded for distribution here.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact City of Cornelius deputies by calling (503) 629-0111.
July 31, 2018 – The Washington County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Oregon State Sheriff's Association (OSSA), will be conducting high visibility enforcement patrols looking for impaired drivers during the entire month of August.
According to NHTSA, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2016, and 28 percent (10,497) of those fatalities were in crashes during which a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08.
On average, a driving under the influence arrest costs $10,000 in attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs, and more.
There are many other ways to ensure a safe ride home besides relying on a friend. The options include using public transportation, calling a taxi, or using a rideshare program such as Uber or Lyft. In addition, NHTSA’s SaferRide Mobile App, available in the app store, is another resource to help those who have been drinking find a sober ride home—by identifying their location and helping to call a taxi or a friend to pick them up.
Please do your part in keeping our roadways safe and help keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, designate your sober driver. And remember: Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.
The results of the August enhanced impaired driving patrols will be posted in early September.
July 26, 2018 – A couple was arrested early this morning after a standoff at a home outside of Sherwood. An armed man confronted deputies who were trying to arrest his wife for driving under the influence of intoxicants. The Tactical Negotiations Team and Crisis Negotiations Unit responded to assist. He and his wife were later arrested on multiple charges.
On Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 11:44 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a complaint about a suspected drunk driver. As part of the investigation, deputies went to a residence in the 23600 block of SW Mountain Home Road near Sherwood.
Deputies contacted an adult female and attempted to take her into custody for driving under the influence of intoxicants. The woman resisted arrest, at which point her husband armed himself with a gun and threatened to shoot deputies. Deputies called for assistance from the inter-agency Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team.
Over the next several hours, deputies and negotiators from the Washington County Crisis Negotiations Unit spoke with the couple to arrange a peaceful resolution.
On July 26, 2018, at 2:49 a.m., the male surrendered and was taken into custody. He was identified as 68-year-old John E. Kerekanich. He will be charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and interfering with a peace officer.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence just before 5 a.m. The female surrendered without further incident. She was identified as 58-year-old Meri E. Kerekanich. She will be charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, resisting arrest and escape in the third degree.
Deputies recovered the gun used in this morning’s incident. No one was injured.
We would like to thank the Sherwood Police Department, Tigard Police Department and the King City Police Department for their assistance with this incident.
July 18, 2018 – A 53-year-old man has been charged with murder after severely beating his father in early March. The 77-year-old man died at the hospital in early June.
On March 2, 2018, at 3:32 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a welfare check at a residence in the 7200 block of Northwest 185th Avenue in unincorporated Washington County.
The caller, 53-year-old Shaun Maki, reported that his father, 77-year-old Melvin Maki, was suffering from self-inflicted injuries inside the home they both lived.
When they arrived, deputies found Melvin suffering from severe injuries that were not consistent with self-inflicted wounds. He was transported to a local trauma hospital with critical injuries.
Based on the suspicious circumstances, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit responded to investigate. Detectives collected evidence that led them to believe that Shaun had brutally beaten his father with a wooden shovel handle and waited a substantial time to call 9-1-1.
Detectives arrested Shaun that evening for attempted murder and other related charges, and lodged him at the Washington County Jail.
On June 4, 2018, Melvin died at a medical facility. The Oregon State Medical Examiner has ruled his death a homicide.
On July 18, 2018, a Washington County Grand Jury indicted Shaun Edwin Maki for murder, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Washington County Jail without bail.
Detectives were assisted in their investigation by Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Unit personnel, Beaverton Police officers from the inter-agency Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team, and Oregon State Police Forensics.
The case will be prosecuted by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.
July 18, 2018 – Detectives arrested two men for sexually abusing a young teenage girl. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and would like to speak with anyone with information on these cases.
In January, detectives received information from a concerned parent that their teenage daughter had been engaging in sexual contact with adult men. Detectives launched an intensive investigation that culminated with arrests in two different counties.
On June 27, 2018, detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christopher I. Iverson, 50, at his home in north Portland.
He was charged with the following crimes:
- Rape in the First Degree
- Rape in the Second Degree
- Attempted Rape in the Second Degree
- Sodomy in the First Degree
- Sodomy in the Second Degree
- Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
- Strangulation
- Purchasing Sex with a Minor (two counts)
- Luring a Minor
- Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the First Degree
- Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the Second Degree
Mr. Iverson was booked into the Multnomah County Jail, where he remains. His bail is set at $1,547,500. This case will be prosecuted by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
On July 17, 2018, detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit traveled to Grants Pass. With assistance from the Washington County Air Support Unit and the Oregon State Police, they arrested Chan Woo Hwang, 30, at his home outside Grants Pass.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Mr. Hwang met several females online and agreed to pay them for sex. When he met up with them, he covertly recorded the sex acts and later used the video footage in an attempt to blackmail the victims into additional meetings for sex.
Mr. Hwang was charged with the following crimes:
- Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct
- Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
- Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (three counts)
- Rape in the Second Degree
- Sodomy in the Second Degree (two counts)
- Luring a Minor
- Commercial Sexual Solicitation
Mr. Hwang was lodged at the Josephine County Jail, where he remains. His bail is set at $1,012,500. This case will be prosecuted by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and will proceed upon Mr. Hwang’s transfer to the Washington County Jail.
Detectives believe there are additional victims. If you have any information on these cases, please contact detectives at 503-846-2500.