Class Prepares Volunteers To Mentor Children With Incarcerated Parents (Photo) -04/01/25

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.

On Saturday, April 12, COPY will offer a volunteer training. This 3½-hour class covers program policies, Q&A from a current volunteer, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families, communication skills, and the stages of a mentoring relationship. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

After initial training and comprehensive background checks, volunteers are matched with a child in Bend, Redmond, Sisters or LaPine that share similar interests and activities and commit 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, cooking or baking, or simply hanging out and talking.

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 

Man Arrested For Luring Minors And Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM) Charges (Photo) -03/28/25

Released by: Sergeant Thomas Lilienthal

Release Date: March 28, 2025

Location: Unincorporated area of Bend, OR

Arrestee: Justin Noble Sayers, 51-year-old Male

Charges:

• 2x Luring a Minor ORS 167.057 (Felony)
• Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct ORS 163.670 (Felony)
• 3x Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree ORS 163.684 (Felony)
• 3x Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree ORS 163.686 (Felony)

Victims: Multiple Female Juveniles ranging from 13-year-old to 16-year-old

NARRATIVE:

In November of 2024, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received an ICAC Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This Cybertip detailed an unknown user who shared imagery of Child Sexual Abuse Material on the chat application Discord within Deschutes County. This was investigated over the next several months by Oregon State Police and Deschutes County ICAC Detectives. Through multiple search warrants and subpoenas, the ICAC unit was able to identify the user as Justin Noble Sayers of the unincorporated area of Bend. The investigation also revealed that Sayers would pose as either a female juvenile or younger male adult to entice victim female juveniles to send sexually explicit images and videos to Sayers since 2023.

On March 21^st, 2025, a joint search warrant operation was conducted to take Sayers into custody, as well as a search of his residence located in the unincorporated area of Bend. This joint operation was conducted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office ICAC unit which is comprised of investigators from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations, The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit which is comprised of detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, and Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies, and Sunriver Police Department Patrol Officers.

Sayers was ultimately lodged on the above listed charges and investigators seized several digital devices from his residence. On March 27^th, 2025, Sayers was indicted by a Grand Jury on these charges.

This is an ongoing investigation. Currently, the investigation has not revealed any victims within Deschutes County. As always, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind parents to monitor their children’s online activity and have open conversations regarding communication online. Just because someone says they are a 15-year-old female does not mean that they are actually a 15-year-old female.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

Business Burglary In Sisters Results In Extensive Damage And Arrest (Photo) -03/22/25

MEDIA RELEASE  

Business burglary in Sisters results in extensive damage and arrest

Released by: Lt. Chad Davis

Release Date: March 22, 2025

Location: Mainline Station, 1001 Rail Way, Sisters, Oregon

Arrestee: Richardson, Christien     age: 26

                 Sisters, Oregon

Charges: Burglary II (one count) , Criminal Mischief I (2 counts), Criminal Mischief III (one count)

Narrative:

On 3/22/2025 at 2:50 a.m., deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to an alarm with glass breakage at the Mainline Station (1001 Rail Way) in Sisters.  The Mainline Station consists of the Chevron gas station, a convenience store and the McDonald’s restaurant. 

As deputies were enroute to the location, a citizen witness called 911 to report seeing a male in dark clothing leaving the area and heading toward Ray’s Food Place that was believed to be related to the alarm.  Upon arrival in the area, deputies saw damaged windows at the Mainline Station and items strewn about the front of the business. As deputies searched the area for the male, they observed the front door window at Ray’s had been broken and then noticed further damage at Level 5 Fitness. 

Deputies located a male matching the suspect description near the Sisters Inn and Suites, where he was detained and later taken into custody.  The suspect was identified as Christien Richardson of Sisters.  Ricardson was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on the charges of Burglary II (one count) , Criminal Mischief I (2 counts), and Criminal Mischief III (one count).

Deputies have conducted follow-up investigations and determined there was extensive damage to the Mainline Station fuel pumps, exterior glass, the interior of the convenience store and the McDonald’s restaurant. Both businesses were closed for several hours while repairs are made.  Both businesses have now re-opened.  Damage at Ray's Food Place required repairs and clean-up resulting in delaying their opening for a short time. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

## End of Release ##

Medical Emergency At Mount Bachelor Ski Resort Results In Tragic Fatality (Photo) -03/17/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2025

Medical Emergency at Mount Bachelor Ski Resort Results in Tragic Fatality

Deschutes County, Ore. – On March 17, 2025, at 3:04 p.m., Deschutes County 911 received an emergency SOS text message from an Apple device via satellite. The message reported a "trapped and injured person in steep terrain." GPS coordinates included in the message indicated the location was on the west side of Mount Bachelor. (43.9861 -121.7032)

911 dispatchers immediately dispatched Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol, AirLink, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies, and Sheriff Search and Rescue teams to the scene. Dispatchers also established voice contact with the reporting party and provided CPR and life-saving instructions.

Ski patrollers reached the reporting party and assumed patient care. Minutes later, the patient was transported to the Mt. Bachelor Clinic, where he succumbed to his injuries.

DCSO deputies identified the deceased as Benjamin Shelkey, 34, of Seattle, Washington. Investigators determined Shelkey was found unresponsive, buried in snow. Third parties at the scene worked for approximately 15 to 20 minutes to free him before beginning CPR.

While the cause of the accident remains under investigation, and the official cause of death has not yet been determined, the circumstances are consistent with snow immersion suffocation. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office urges outdoor enthusiasts to use caution when recreating in backcountry and resort areas, particularly in deep snow conditions.

Statement from Sheriff van der Kamp:
"On behalf of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Oregon community, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Benjamin Shelkey. This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts are with those who knew and loved him. We also want to recognize the swift response and dedication of all those citizens and ski patrollers who assisted in this rescue effort. Tragedies like this remind us of the risks of outdoor recreation, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions when venturing into deep snow conditions."

We thank our partners—Deschutes County 911, Mt. Bachelor National Ski Patrol, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, and AirLink—for their professionalism and commitment to public safety.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Provides Free Shred Event In Bend (Photo) -03/14/25

Released By:  Lt. Bryan Husband

Release Date:  March 14th, 2025

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of Republic Services, will be providing a free shred event tomorrow, 03/15/25, 10am-12pm, at our main office in Bend, 63333 Hwy 20 West. This information can also be located on the DCSO website (sheriff.deschutes.org) under the Community/Public Notices tab.

This is a residential free shred event and is not intended for business/commercial shredding. We can accept paper clips and staples but cannot take plastic bags or three ring binders. We are asking that people limit the number of documents to be shredded to no more than four boxes. If you have more than four boxes of material to be shredded, we are asking that you contact Republic Services at 541-352-2263 to determine how to dispose of your items.

 
Medications accepted are prescription, patches, ointments, over the counter, vitamins, samples, and medications for pets.

NO SHARPS, THERMOMETERS, INHALERS, ETC.
 
This event also provides an opportunity for flag disposal. If anyone has an old tattered American flag, they would like properly disposed of it can be done at these events.  
Food donations are also accepted during the event, which will go to a local foodbank.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search And Rescue Rescues Injured Skiers On South Sister (Photo) -03/12/25

BEND, Ore. — March 11, 2025 – On the afternoon of March 11, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to a call about two skiers stranded on South Sister—one of them injured. Attempts to contact the skiers by phone were unsuccessful, so SAR teams began coordinating a rescue.

By 2:38 p.m., the Sheriff's Office SAR Incident Management Team was activated to help plan the mission. At 4:51 p.m., two SAR members were flown to the mountain by a AirLink helicopter, and by 5:12 p.m., they had spotted the skiers and were searching for a place to land.

SAR members had reached the skiers, both men (ages 19 & 20) from Salt Lake City, UT. Moments later, the Oregon Army National Guard HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter arrived overhead. The Army National Guard helicopter successfully picked up both the injured skier and their companion and transported them to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

Meanwhile, the two rescueing SAR members remained near the south edge of the Lewis Glacier. They skied down South Sister to another SAR team on snowmobiles who delivered back to Dutchman Sno-Park.

This rescue was a team effort, and we appreciate the help from AirLink and the Oregon Army National Guard in getting these skiers to safety.

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Rescues Injured Snowmobile Rider Near Elk Lake (Photo) -03/08/25

DESCHUTES COUNTY, OR – March 8, 2025 –

At approximately 3:53 PM, Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a report of a serious snowmobile accident near Elk Lake Loop, just south of Sunset View Day Use Area. The rider, identified as a 14-year-old female from Lake Oswego, Oregon, went off-trail and collided with a tree, sustaining serious injuries.

Due to the severity of the injuries and challenging terrain, nine Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers from both the snowmobile and medical teams quickly responded. While en route, deputies received updates that the patient had briefly lost consciousness. Given this critical development, Air Link was immediately dispatched to assist with the evacuation.

AirLink initially could not land near the crash site due to terrain constraints. SAR teams swiftly established a safe landing zone on nearby Trail 5 (GPS 43.9711, -121.7979). Two Sheriff's Office SAR paramedics and two AirLink Flight Nurses provided urgent medical care on scene, stabilizing the patient before transporting her via the SAR Snowbulance approximately 1.6 miles to the helicopter.

At 6:44 PM, the patient was successfully loaded onto the AirLink helicopter and transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon, for continued medical care.

#END#