*****Update*****
The drivers of the vehicles involved in the fatal crash on Hwy 101 / NW 68th St. on Dec. 10, 2018, have been identified. The driver of the Geo Metro was identifeid as Candous Lee Holberg, 52, Waldport. Holberg was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene of the crash.
The driver of the Chevrolet Blaser was identified as Jacqueline Eve Read, 34, Lincoln City. Read's passenger was identified as Carl Vincent Davidson, 44, South Beach. Read and Davidson suffered minor injuries during the crash.
The crash remains under of investigtation.
*****End of Update*****
On December 10th, 2018 the Newport Police Department, along with Newport Fire, were dispatched to the area of NW 68th Street and Hwy 101, on the report of a head-on collision. Newport Police Officers and Oregon State Police arrived and determined two vehicles were involved and there were multiple injured occupants, including one occupant trapped inside their vehicle.
The investigation revealed a white GEO Metro headed southbound on Hwy 101 had crossed the centerline where it crashed head on into a Chevrolet S10 Blaser, which had been travelling northbound.
Newport Fire and PacWest Ambulance arrived and pronounced the driver of the Geo, who was trapped inside the vehicle, deceased as a result of the injuries.
Highway 101 was closed for several hours while the Lincoln County Interagency Major Crash Team completed their investigation. The team is comprised of members of the Oregon State Police, Lincoln City Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo Police Department, Newport Police Department, and the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office. At the conclusion of the investigation, the vehicles were towed and the roadway was re-opened to through traffic.
On 12/07/18, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Newport Police Officers attempted to stop a motorcyclist for traffic violations near the intersection of S Coast Hwy and SW Case St.
When Officers activated their emergency lights to conduct the traffic stop, the motorcycle quickly accelerated southbound on S Coast Hwy leading the Officers on a pursuit.
Officers observed the motorcyclist speeding through traffic at speeds estimated between 80 mph and 90 mph over the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Officers lost sight of the motorcycle and terminated the pursuit. A short time later, Officers were notified by a passing motorist that the motorcycle had crashed near the intersection of S Coast Hwy and SE 32nd St. Officers responded to the area and located a male subject walking away from the area. The male was identified as 21 Year Old, Jason Avery of Newport.
Avery was detained while the investigation continued. Officers were able to locate Avery’s motorcycle hidden off the roadway on SE 32nd St. Avery had stashed his motorcycle in an attempt to evade being located.
Avery was subsequently taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the charges of Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. Avery also received citations for Speeding, Unsafe Passing, and No Motorcycle Endorsement.
On 12/07/18, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Newport Police Officers attempted to stop a motorcyclist for traffic violations near the intersection of S Coast Hwy and SW Case St.
When Officers activated their emergency lights to conduct the traffic stop, the motorcycle quickly accelerated southbound on S Coast Hwy leading the Officers on a pursuit.
Officers observed the motorcyclist speeding through traffic at speeds estimated between 80 mph and 90 mph over the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Officers lost sight of the motorcycle and terminated the pursuit. A short time later, Officers were notified by a passing motorist that the motorcycle had crashed near the intersection of S Coast Hwy and SE 32nd St. Officers responded to the area and located a male subject walking away from the area. The male was identified as 21 Year Old, Jason Avery of Newport.
Avery was detained while the investigation continued. Officers were able to locate Avery’s motorcycle hidden off the roadway on SE 32nd St. Avery had stashed his motorcycle in an attempt to evade being located.
Avery was subsequently taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on the charges of Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. Avery also received citations for Speeding, Unsafe Passing, and No Motorcycle Endorsement.
On 11/23/18, Newport Police Department and Newport Fire Department responded to several Arson Fires around the City of Newport.
The first fire was set at Betty Wheeler Field in one of the dugouts at about 1:40 p.m. which caused damage to a wooden bench and the dugout wall. The second fire was set at about 2:30 p.m. in the loading dock of Rite Aid which caused damage to a vinyl fence. The third fire was set at about 2:40 p.m. in a recycling bin located at Rory Foley CPA Office. This fire destroyed the recycling bin and caused damage to the building. The fourth fire was set in the loading dock at Best Western Resort at about 2:50 p.m. This fire was set in a pile of cardboard located next to the building. The fifth fire was set in a cardboard recycling and storage area at Walmart at about 3:15 p.m. This fire caused extensive damage to the fence surrounding the storage area along with many other items that were being stored there.
A short time after the Walmart fire, surveillance footage was obtained and David Caskey was positively identified as the suspect. Caskey was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident.
The investigation into the fires is ongoing as several of the fires were not initially reported to Police.
At the time of the fires, Caskey was wearing dark pants and had on a bright yellow “safety jacket” with a black hoodie underneath it.
If anyone has information about reported, or unreported fires, they are requested to contact Newport Police at 541-574-3348.
On 11/23/18, Newport Police Department and Newport Fire Department responded to several Arson Fires around the City of Newport.
The first fire was set at Betty Wheeler Field in one of the dugouts at about 1:40 p.m. which caused damage to a wooden bench and the dugout wall. The second fire was set at about 2:30 p.m. in the loading dock of Rite Aid which caused damage to a vinyl fence. The third fire was set at about 2:40 p.m. in a recycling bin located at Rory Foley CPA Office. This fire destroyed the recycling bin and caused damage to the building. The fourth fire was set in the loading dock at Best Western Resort at about 2:50 p.m. This fire was set in a pile of cardboard located next to the building. The fifth fire was set in a cardboard recycling and storage area at Walmart at about 3:15 p.m. This fire caused extensive damage to the fence surrounding the storage area along with many other items that were being stored there.
A short time after the Walmart fire, surveillance footage was obtained and David Caskey was positively identified as the suspect. Caskey was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident.
The investigation into the fires is ongoing as several of the fires were not initially reported to Police.
At the time of the fires, Caskey was wearing dark pants and had on a bright yellow “safety jacket” with a black hoodie underneath it.
If anyone has information about reported, or unreported fires, they are requested to contact Newport Police at 541-574-3348.
On November 12th and 13th, 2018, Newport Police Department conducted an investigation involving subjects transporting large amounts of Methamphetamine and Heroin from the State of Washington, to the Newport area.
On November 13th, 2018 at approximately 0315 hours, a vehicle associated with the investigation was stopped by Newport officers in the area of NW 58th Street and Hwy 101. During the stop, officers had contact with Roberta Raenna Schafer, 32, and Jonathan Tad Wilson, 35, both from Longview, Washington. Newport Drug Detection K9, Nero, conducted a search on the exterior of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
Officers searched the vehicle and located a commercial quantity of Methamphetamine and Heroin inside the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed both Schafer and Wilson had valid outstanding warrants for their arrests out of Washington State.
Arrested at the scene and lodged in the Lincoln County Jail were the following persons for the following charges;
Roberta Raenna Schafer, 32
- Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Possession of a Controlled Substance – Heroin
- Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
- Felony Warrant from Washington State
Jonathan Tad Wilson, 35
- State of Washington Parole Board Warrant