Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert Continues Town Hall Series In Terrebonne (Photo) - 01/12/26

Terrebonne, OR – The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents about this week’s community Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, January 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Terrebonne Community School.

These Town Halls offer residents the opportunity to connect directly with their Sheriff’s Office, ask questions, share concerns, and provide ideas to help shape the future of public safety in Deschutes County.

Sheriff Rupert’s next Town Hall will make a stop in Sisters on Wednesday, January 21, at Sisters Elementary School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Additional Town Halls are in the works, including several in Bend.

Sheriff’s Town Hall Meeting Schedule

Terrebonne

• Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
• Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Terrebonne Community School, 1199 B Ave., Terrebonne, OR

Sisters

• Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Sisters Elementary School, 2155 McKinney Butte Rd, Sisters, OR 

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Deputies With The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Suspect Following Homicide Early Wednesday Morning - 01/08/26

Bend, Ore. – On January 7, 2026, at 2:58 a.m., deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at a property near Bowery Lane and Grandview Drive just north of Bend. Upon arrival, the body of Christi Mitchell, 42, was discovered. Deputies contacted Stephen Mitchell, 45, who was still on scene and took him into custody.

Following an initial interview and investigation, Stephen Mitchell was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail and is facing several charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, Physical Tampering with Evidence, Reckless Burning, and Abuse of a Corpse.

The public may notice police presence near Deschutes Memorial Gardens on the north end of Bend as the investigation continues.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by Oregon State Police, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bend Fire Marshal’s Office.

Further inquiries regarding this case should be addressed to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office.

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New Four-Legged Deputy: The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes Drug Detection K-9 “Dozer” (Photo) - 01/06/26

Bend, Ore. — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is proud to welcome its newest working dog, K-9 Dozer, a 16-month-old Springer Spaniel specially trained in drug detection.

K-9 Dozer has been assigned to the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team and will work primarily in undercover and drug operations throughout Deschutes County and the tri-county region. Dozer was trained by Golden Gate K9 under certified trainer Frank Romano.

Dozer is a four-odor drug detection dog, trained to detect methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Adding him to the K-9 team strengthens local drug enforcement capabilities, as there are currently only a limited number of odor-detection dogs available in the region. Dozer arrived in late December for an introduction with his new handler and will begin field operations in early 2026.

With Dozer’s arrival, DCSO now has five working dogs, including:

• Three patrol K-9s (Delta, Ronin, and Vinnie)
• One digital forensics detection K-9 (Cache)
• One drug detection K-9 (Dozer)

Sheriff Ty Rupert emphasized the importance of continued investment in drug enforcement efforts.

“Drug investigations play a vital role in improving public safety and preventing dangerous drugs from entering our communities, which often lead to increased crime,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert. “K-9 Dozer improves our ability to identify and disrupt illegal drug activity while ensuring the safety of our community, deputies, and partner agencies across Central Oregon.”

In addition to CODE operations, K-9 Dozer will be available to assist DCSO patrol deputies and other Central Oregon law enforcement agencies as needed.

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Class Prepares Volunteers To Mentor Children Of Incarcerated Parents (Photo) - 01/05/26

Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY), a program of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a class to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent.

After initial training and background checks, volunteers are matched with a child that shares similar interests and commits to spending a few hours a week together for a minimum of one year. This time is often spent on outside activities, exploring the community, doing art or craft projects, or simply hanging out and talking.

On Saturday, January 17, COPY will offer an orientation/training class. This 3½ -hour class covers program policies, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families, and communication skills. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required.

For additional details please call 541-388-6651 or email COPY@deschutes.org Additional program information is available at the Sheriff’s Office web site at www.sheriff.deschutes.org/copy

DUII Suspect Eludes Deputies, Found Passed Out Behind The Wheel After Crashing Stolen Truck In Bend (Photo) - 01/04/26

Person Of Interest In Redmond Homicide Case Arrested Friday Afternoon By The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office - 01/02/26

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Redmond Homicide; Asks Public For Help Locating Person Of Interest (Photo) - 01/01/26

Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert Continues Town Hall Series At Three Rivers School In Sunriver Tuesday, January 6th (Photo) - 12/31/25

Stay Safe This Holiday Season: The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Urges The Community To Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over (Photo) - 12/22/25

Bend, Ore. — As the holiday season arrives and winter weather settles in across Central Oregon, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Drivers will see increased patrols on local roads through New Year’s Eve as part of a nationwide effort to prevent impaired driving and keep communities safe.

Drunk driving is illegal, dangerous, and especially risky during the winter months when road conditions can already be hazardous. With holiday gatherings and celebrations underway, Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies will be out to ensure drivers are making safe choices behind the wheel.

“We want everyone in Deschutes County to enjoy a safe and joyful holiday season,” said Sheriff Ty Rupert. “That means planning ahead, driving sober, and looking out for one another. Our deputies will be increasing patrols to help prevent tragedies before they happen.”

Why It Matters

• Even one drink can impair your ability to drive safely
• A DUI can cost you $10,000 or more in fines, legal fees, and lost wages
• Alcohol-related crashes cost the U.S. $57 billion annually
• You could lose your license, your vehicle, and even your job
• You risk taking the lives of others and even yourself

Plan Ahead This Holiday Season

• Drive 100% sober. Even one drink is too many
• Designate a sober driver before you start celebrating
• Use a taxi, rideshare, or public transit to get home safely
• Report drunk drivers to law enforcement
• Stop friends from driving impaired — take their keys and help them get home safely

Let’s make this season one to remember for all the right reasons. For more information on impaired driving prevention, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

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Lt. Nathan Garibay With The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Recognized With Lifetime Achievement Award For His Work In Emergency Management (Photo) - 12/18/25

Bend, Ore. - The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Lt. Nathan Garibay was formally recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award for his outstanding contributions to Emergency Management and Search and Rescue during the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) Winter Conference, held last week at the Riverhouse in Bend. 

Lt. Garibay received this honor in front of law enforcement leaders and Emergency Managers from across Oregon—an acknowledgment of his reputation as one of the state’s most respected and forward-thinking professionals in the field.

For over a decade, Lt. Garibay has served as a mentor, advisor, and a steady presence in times of crisis. His leadership has shaped emergency response efforts across the region, and his work as the inaugural Chair of the OSSA Emergency Management Command Council laid the groundwork for a successful statewide Incident Management Team (IMT) program.

“Lt. Garibay is the kind of leader every community hopes to have in times of crisis,” said Sheriff Ty Rupert. “He brings not only expertise, but compassion, humility, and a relentless drive to serve. His work has shaped the future of Emergency Management in Oregon, and we are proud to have him on our team.”

Whether responding to wildfires, floods, or large-scale search and rescue missions, Lt. Garibay consistently demonstrates professionalism, empathy, and a deep commitment to public service. His recognition at the OSSA Winter Conference is a testament to the respect he has earned from colleagues statewide.

Lt. Garibay began his law enforcement career in 1996. He has served as a cadet, police officer, sergeant, and lieutenant with the Redmond Police Department, and as a deputy sheriff, sergeant, and now lieutenant with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. He was supported at the OSSA Winter Conference by Sheriff Ty Rupert, Cpt. Mike Sundberg, Cpt. Bryan Husband, and Cpt. Michael Shults. All are incredibly proud of the leadership Lt. Garibay brings to the Sheriff’s Office and the example he sets for public service across Oregon.

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Workplace Dispute Sparks Shooting At Sisters Restaurant; Suspect Arrested After Short Pursuit (Photo) - 12/16/25

Sisters, Ore. — A shooting at Spoons Restaurant in Sisters on Tuesday morning triggered a police pursuit that ended with the suspect’s arrest along Highway 20 between Sisters and Bend. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office says the incident was the result of a workplace dispute where the victim and suspect knew each other.

At 8:19 a.m., Deschutes County Sheriff's Office deputies were initially dispatched to reports of a shooting. Detectives say Kristopher Kirkpatrick, 31, entered the restaurant posing as a customer before confronting the victim — a former colleague — and shooting him at point-blank range in the face with a Saber pistol capable of firing pepper balls and rubber bullets. He then chased the victim through the restaurant, discharging multiple rounds.

Kirkpatrick then fled the restaurant and took off in a truck on Highway 20 toward Bend. Deputies initiated a pursuit and successfully executed a Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver near Plainview Road, located between Sisters and Bend. Kirkpatrick was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including cuts, bruising, and swelling to his face, and additional bruising and swelling on multiple parts of his body from the impact of the projectiles. He was taken to St. Charles-Bend for further evaluation. 

Although the ammunition used was not traditional bullets, the Saber pistol is capable of inflicting serious injury, especially when targeting areas of the body like the face or at close distance. Detectives say the suspect made it clear through his actions that he intended to cause harm and kill the victim.

Thankfully, nobody else was hurt in the shooting, and detectives believe only the victim was the intended target. The investigation is ongoing. 

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