Update: Click It Or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign (Photo) -06/07/25

UPDATED: 06/07/2025
 

During Memorial Day Weekend, members of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Community Action Target Team (CATT) participated in the National “Click it or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign.” During this focus patrol, CATT members made 43 traffic stops, issued 13 citations, and 33 warnings. CATT also responded to multiple motor vehicle crashed during the weekend. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will continue to focus on the five fatal behaviors that cause crashes: lane safety, occupant safety, distracted driving, speed, and impaired driving. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2025

CONTACT: Lieutenant Chris Erhardt

Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign Reminds Drivers:

Buckle Up May 19 - June 1, and Every Day

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Target Team, will be participating in “Click it or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign.” Beginning Monday, May 19th and extending through Sunday, June 1st, law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon will use federally funded enforcement hours to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old. In 2022, 1,697 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 16 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four to eight year olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.

• Of the 23,959 passenger vehicle occupants killed in the United States in 2023, nearly 50% of those killed were not buckled.

• In 2017 an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.

• The 2017 law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.

• Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.

• For help selecting or installing child car seats, consult the seat manufacturer’s instructions, your vehicle owner’s manual, or visit a local child seat fitting station listed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#inspection-inspection

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 six 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. 

All Level 1: Be Ready Evacuation Notices For The Euston Fire Dropped -06/06/25

Release Date: June 6, 2025

Firefighters have made significant progress mopping up the Euston Fire north of Redmond. This allows us to drop all Level 1: Be Ready evacuation notices.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Issues Level II Evacuation Notice For The Euston Fire In Redmond Area (Photo) -06/03/25

Due to fire activity in the area of Euston Lane and Coyner Avenue, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has issued the following evacuation notices:

Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation notice is issued for the following areas: 

Homes north of NW Coyner Avenue, west of Highway 97, South of Irwin Avenue, and East of Northwest Way.

Level 2: means BE SET to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
• There is significant danger in your area. Stay informed and be alert. Continue to check for updates through local city, county, and emergency service websites, social media, TV, and radio.
• Time to act—follow your emergency plan and grab your Go Bag supplies.
• If you have livestock, put your animal evacuation plan into action.
• Inform loved ones of your evacuation plan .
• Conditions can change rapidly.
• Leave if you feel unsafe.
• This may be the only notice that you receive.

A Temporary Evacuation Point is being established at Highland Baptist Church for people needing to evacuate : 3100 SW Highland Avenue Redmond, OR 97756

La Pine Woman Dies After Paddleboarding Incident At Pringle Falls (Photo) -05/30/25

Release Date: May 30, 2025

Date and Time of Incident: May 29, 2025, at approximately 1:21 p.m.

Incident Location: Deschutes River at Pringle Falls, about 6 miles west of La Pine

Victim: 22-year-old female, La Pine, Oregon

Narrative:

On May 29, 2025, at approximately 1:21 p.m., Deschutes County 911 received a report of a water rescue. Initial information indicated that two paddleboarders were in the water and a female was possibly trapped in the rapids at Pringle Falls.

Deputies, Oregon State Police troopers, and personnel from the La Pine Fire Department responded. Upon arrival, they found the woman entangled underwater but partially visible. She was in a very treacherous location, and responders lost sight of her while attempting to assist. Her husband was helped out of the water downstream from Pringle Falls by a deputy and members of the Sunriver Fire Department.

Deputies, swift water rescue teams, and drones conducted search efforts for several hours. At approximately 7:30 p.m., information was received that the woman had been located downstream. Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue teams responded to the area further downstream and learned she was found drifting underwater and pulled from the water.

Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy. As we head into warmer months, the Sheriff’s Office urges everyone planning to spend time on the water to wear a properly fitted life jacket and to be aware of river conditions before exploring. The Deschutes River and other waterways in our region can be deceptively hazardous, especially during spring runoff or after heavy rains. Please take the time to check current conditions, know your limits and ensure you have the right equipment to stay safe.

The La Pine Fire District, Sunriver Fire Department, Oregon State Police, U.S. Forest Service, Bend Police Department, and Deschutes County 911 assisted the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail and provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, marine patrol, ATV patrol, forest patrol, and five K-9 teams. Founded in 1916 and led by Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves more than 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, including 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

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Suspect Arrested For Hit And Run On Pedestrian And Weapons Offense In Sisters (Photo) -05/21/25

Suspect arrested for hit and run on pedestrian and weapons offense in Sisters 

Released by: Lt. Chad Davis

Release Date: May 21, 2025

Date/ Time of incident: 5/21/25 at 10:50 a.m.

First incident Location:  West Hood Avenue and Highway 20, Sisters, Oregon

Second incident location:  Mainline Station, 1001 West Rail Way, Sisters, Oregon

Arrestee: Virgen-Chavez, Daniel                    Age: 29

                      Sisters, Oregon

Pedestrian victim: 35 year old male, Sisters, Oregon

Weapons offense victim:   46 year old male, Sisters, Oregon

Charges:   Assault II, Fail to Perform the Duties of a Driver involving injury, Unlawful Use of a Weapon,  Menacing, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, and Disorderly Conduct II.

Narrative:

On 5/21/25 at approximately 10:50 a.m., deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported hit and run involving a vehicle versus a pedestrian in the area of West Hood Avenue and Highway 20 West in the city of Sisters.  911 dispatch advised a gold-colored sedan had driven up onto the sidewalk at this location in the on-coming lane and struck a pedestrian.  Several citizens witnessed the vehicle strike the pedestrian and later provided statements to deputies.

The sedan was seen leaving the area westbound on Highway 20.   Deputies responded to the scene and evaluated the pedestrian and began to search for the suspect vehicle.   

The pedestrian had minor injuries and refused treatment from medics from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. The pedestrian victim was identified as a 35-year-old male resident of Sisters.  He received minor scrapes and abrasions from being struck by the driver’s side mirror of the suspect vehicle and was able to walk away from the scene.

At 10:56 a.m., a separate 911 call was received from the Mainline Station (1001 Rail Way), where there was a reported dispute involving a male subject brandishing a knife.  Prior to a nearby deputy arriving at Mainline Station, the subject with the knife was seen leaving in a gold-colored sedan.   Deputies were able to locate the gold sedan near the original hit and run scene, where they performed a high-risk vehicle stop.   The suspect complied and was taken into custody without incident.   The suspect was identified as Daniel Virgen-Chavez and later lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on the above charges. 

The investigation determined after Virgen-Chavez had struck the male with his vehicle, he drove to Mainline Station, where he got into a separate argument with 46-year-old male resident of Sisters.  Virgen-Chavez brandished a folding knife at the second male while having a verbal confrontation with him.  Staff at Mainline Station called 911 to report this dispute.   Eventually, Virgen-Chavez left Mainline Station in his vehicle and drove eastbound on Highway 20, where he was located by deputies and taken into custody.  Neither of the victims had any prior affiliation with Virgen-Chavez.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by officers from the Black Butte Ranch Police Department and medics from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. 

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.

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Distracted Driving Awareness Month (Photo) -05/13/25

Date: May 13, 2025

Released by: Lieutenant Chris Erhardt

Members of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Target Team (CATT) participated in “Put the phone away or pay” campaign. During the month of April members of CATT focused specifically on distracted driving, however, did stop motorist for other violations. As a result, CATT members stopped 93 motorists, resulting in 63 warnings, 33 citations, and 4 arrests. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office urges motorists to put the phone away and focus on the roadway. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will continue to focus on the five fatal behaviors that cause crashes: lane safety, occupant safety, distracted driving, speed, and impaired driving. 

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 six 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 La Pine (Photo) -05/13/25

Release By:  Lt. Bryan Husband

Release Date:  May 13th, 2025

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of Republic Services, will be providing a free shred event this Saturday, 05/17/25, 10am-12pm, at our La Pine substation, 51340 Hwy 97. 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.