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Polk Co. Sheriff's Office
Emergency Messages as of 2:48 am, Fri. Aug. 1
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News Releases
Polk County Accepting Reserve Deputy Applications - 07/17/14
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is currently accepting Reserve Deputy Sheriff applications for the Reserve Academy that runs from early November 2014 until the middle of May 2015. The application deadline is August 1st, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants must be 21 years of age and will be required at a minimum to pass a written test, interviews, criminal background check, psychological evaluation, physical fitness test and drug screening. Apply at http://www.co.polk.or.us/ru/volunteer-opportunities-polk-county and select volunteer application.
Send the completed applications to the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 850 Main St Dallas, Or 97338. For further information, contact Detective John Williams at 503-623-9251.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is currently accepting Reserve Deputy Sheriff applications for the Reserve Academy that runs from early November 2014 until the middle of May 2015. The application deadline is August 1st, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants must be 21 years of age and will be required at a minimum to pass a written test, interviews, criminal background check, psychological evaluation, physical fitness test and drug screening. Apply at http://www.co.polk.or.us/ru/volunteer-opportunities-polk-county and select volunteer application.
Send the completed applications to the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 850 Main St Dallas, Or 97338. For further information, contact Detective John Williams at 503-623-9251.
Newton
***UPDATE*** 07/14/14
Micheal Johnson has been taken into custody without incident today. He is being held at the Polk County Jail on the following charges:
Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Unlawful use of a weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Reckless Endangering.
Total bail: $217,500
***UPDATE***
On July 10th, 2014 the Polk County Sheriff's Office has identified the second involved person known initially as "Scotty". "Scotty" has been identified as 31 year old Scott Newton of the Mill City area. Scott Newton also goes by the nickname, "sidewinder".
If anyone has information on the whereabouts of Scott Newton or Micheal Johnson, please call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 503-623-9251 and speak with Detective Sergeant Mark Garton.
The Silver Honda Accord that Micheal Johnson had been seen driving is no longer of interest to the Sheriff's Office. It is not known at this time what vehicle's either Johnson or Newton are involved with.
On 7-8-2014 at about 1530 hours there was a shooting incident in Falls City on Sheldon Avenue. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office were advised that two white male subjects had gone to the falls located between Parry Road and Mitchell Street and threatened another male with firearms. The subjects were identified by witnesses as Michael Johnson, DOB/ 2-13-1979, and a yet to be identified WMA who goes by the name "Scotty". Both subjects were reported to be armed with .45 caliber semi automatic pistols that had silver slides and black handles.
After the altercation at the falls the subjects went to Sheldon Avenue near Frost Road where they reportedly shot 4-5 rounds at the residence located at 243 Sheldon Avenue. The home owner at that location returned fire and then gave chase as the suspect's car sped away westbound into Falls City. The vehicle chase continued through town and the suspects reportedly fired back at the pursuing vehicle as they were passing in front of the Falls City High School on North Main Street heading eastbound out of town.
No one was hit in the exchange of gunfire nor in the short pursuit. The home owner who was targeted by the drive-by shooting stopped when he saw a Polk County Deputy in the area and reported the incident.
At this point Mr. Johnson remains a person of interest in the investigation as does the subject known as "Scotty". Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Sgt. Michael Holsapple at 503-623-9251. Mr. Johnson is reported to be driving a silver Honda Accord with Texas plates. He also has a silver Toyota Tundra pickup with Texas plates.
Attached Media Files: 2014-07/1292/75768/JOHNSON_MICHEAL_CHARLES.doc , Newton
Sheriff Concerned About Calls - 07/11/14
Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe continues to express concern regarding the ability of his agency to handle calls and provide back up to local agencies due to loss of staff and budget reductions. Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "Since July of last year we have lost several experienced deputies and reduced our patrol hours to just 10 hours per day in March of this year"
Staffing levels for the patrol division on July 1, of this year is now at 6 deputies and 3 sergeants. Last year at this time we had 14 deputies and 4 sergeants. In the last twelve months the sheriff's office has eliminated a forestry patrol deputy, one patrol sergeant, four contract deputies assigned to Grand Ronde, along with the retirement of a 22 year veteran deputy and two additional deputies cut from the budget beginning July 1st.
Between March 29th and June 30th there have been 485 calls from citizens requesting a deputy to respond during the hours in which no deputies are on duty. The calls range from domestic disturbances to reckless drivers on the highways. On July 6th a domestic resulted in Yamhill County Sheriff's Office having to detain a male subject who was shooting a firearm, setting off fireworks in his house that caught the house on fire while intoxicated. At the request of Yamhill County a patrol sergeant was called out of bed to come to the scene and take custody of this subject who was lodged in Polk County Jail.
"We appreciate Yamhill County responding to stabilize this serious situation and understand this tied up multiple deputies while they waited for my sergeant to get up, get dressed and respond from his home", stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe. This is a perfect example of the impacts of a delayed response to serious situations. Over the last week dispatchers have called patrol sergeants out of bed to respond to domestics and fights, several involving firearms. The potential for things to go really bad on these delayed calls continues to increase as responding deputies have to wake up, get the details, get dressed then drive with lights and siren to the scene.
Next week, another deputy will be leaving to accept a position with the Marion County Sheriff's Office. "This is bittersweet, we are happy for him, but we lose another deputy with 10 years of experience to another agency because unless stabilized funding is established, more lay-offs will occur one year from now" stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe.
A noticeable change with less hours of patrol coverage and less deputies has been a 30% reduction in warrants being served. "I know for a fact some citizens are not calling us about problems they are having because they know we are short handed. This is not good because this only allows individuals intent on committing crimes to feel more confident they will not be caught" stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe
This week Polk County Sheriff's Office investigates a drive by shooting, something not common in Polk County with limited resources and only during the 10 hours a day that deputies are on duty along with handling other calls.
Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe continues to express concern regarding the ability of his agency to handle calls and provide back up to local agencies due to loss of staff and budget reductions. Sheriff Bob Wolfe stated, "Since July of last year we have lost several experienced deputies and reduced our patrol hours to just 10 hours per day in March of this year"
Staffing levels for the patrol division on July 1, of this year is now at 6 deputies and 3 sergeants. Last year at this time we had 14 deputies and 4 sergeants. In the last twelve months the sheriff's office has eliminated a forestry patrol deputy, one patrol sergeant, four contract deputies assigned to Grand Ronde, along with the retirement of a 22 year veteran deputy and two additional deputies cut from the budget beginning July 1st.
Between March 29th and June 30th there have been 485 calls from citizens requesting a deputy to respond during the hours in which no deputies are on duty. The calls range from domestic disturbances to reckless drivers on the highways. On July 6th a domestic resulted in Yamhill County Sheriff's Office having to detain a male subject who was shooting a firearm, setting off fireworks in his house that caught the house on fire while intoxicated. At the request of Yamhill County a patrol sergeant was called out of bed to come to the scene and take custody of this subject who was lodged in Polk County Jail.
"We appreciate Yamhill County responding to stabilize this serious situation and understand this tied up multiple deputies while they waited for my sergeant to get up, get dressed and respond from his home", stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe. This is a perfect example of the impacts of a delayed response to serious situations. Over the last week dispatchers have called patrol sergeants out of bed to respond to domestics and fights, several involving firearms. The potential for things to go really bad on these delayed calls continues to increase as responding deputies have to wake up, get the details, get dressed then drive with lights and siren to the scene.
Next week, another deputy will be leaving to accept a position with the Marion County Sheriff's Office. "This is bittersweet, we are happy for him, but we lose another deputy with 10 years of experience to another agency because unless stabilized funding is established, more lay-offs will occur one year from now" stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe.
A noticeable change with less hours of patrol coverage and less deputies has been a 30% reduction in warrants being served. "I know for a fact some citizens are not calling us about problems they are having because they know we are short handed. This is not good because this only allows individuals intent on committing crimes to feel more confident they will not be caught" stated Sheriff Bob Wolfe
This week Polk County Sheriff's Office investigates a drive by shooting, something not common in Polk County with limited resources and only during the 10 hours a day that deputies are on duty along with handling other calls.