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@LaneSheriffOR
Lane County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant shortly before 9:00am this morning at a residence in the 1500blk of Adelman Lp. in Eugene pursuant to a robbery investigation they are conducting.
The Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team initially responded to assist with the warrant as there was information to believe that the suspects could be armed and dangerous.
Deputies are still processing the scene and the investigation is ongoing. One person was detained for questioning without incident. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Interested in serving your community and learning more about a career in law enforcement?
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program is for young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who have an interest in law enforcement. The Cadet Program provides an opportunity to get first-hand experience working in the criminal justice field. Cadets are able to develop skills and knowledge in order to prepare for full-time employment in a very important and fulfilling career.
Requirements:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be between 18 and 21 years of age
- Must be enrolled in high school / GED program, or have a high school diploma / GED
Cadets Will:
- Participate in law enforcement ride-alongs
- Receive training in law enforcement procedures, legal issues, use of force, corrections operations and patrol operations
- Learn about the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office and work with special teams including Marine Patrol, Dunes Patrol, And Forest Patrol
This is a competitive process that will be closing soon! Apply today at:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/LaneCountyOR/CadetApplication
Additional information may be found at: http://www.LaneCountyOr.gov/Sheriff_Cadet_Program or by contacting Sgt. Alex Speldrich at alex.speldrich@lanecountyor.gov
Measure 20-340
www.publicsafetylevy.org
Week of March 19-25, 2023
Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold will be available for questions related to the proposed Lane County Jail Levy Renewal (Measure 20-340) at two different locations this upcoming week:
- Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30PM - Elmira Elementary School (88960 Territorial Hwy., Elmira)
- Thursday, March 23 at 6:00PM – John Serbu Campus (2727 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Eugene)
Following a short presentation, the Sheriff will be available to answer questions and speak with community members.
Passage of this measure would not increase the tax rate and renews a current local option tax.
Measure renewal will maintain a minimum of 255 local jail beds for the five-year period, providing the Sheriff with improved ability to hold those arrested for violent felony offenses until their cases are resolved.
Levy renewal would also:
- maintain investment in medical mental health services within the Jail to help those in custody make positive improvements and build life skills in an effort to reduce recidivism
- continue to provide counseling, secure treatment, and detention services for youth offenders
Levy funds are placed in a restricted fund earmarked for the Jail and Youth Services. An annual independent financial audit of levy spending is required and presented publicly.
The estimated tax rate for this levy is $0.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Lane County homeowner is estimated to pay an average of $118 per year for five years.
Additional information sessions will be provided by the Sheriff at different locations throughout the county in the upcoming weeks.
In 2022, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a limited amount of funding by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to investigate and shut down large-scale criminal marijuana manufacturing operations. The Sheriff’s Office has utilized this funding to shut down several operations that have negatively impacted our community and without the grant funding, LCSO would not have the resources needed to conduct the investigations. Investigative resources are focused on large scale operations that illegally sell their product on the black market undermining licensed growers and producers. Often these unregulated operations negatively impact the environment, violate land use laws, construction safety codes, and labor laws. The following case summaries are recent examples of how this limited funding has been used.
LCSO Case # 23-0047
On February 15, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Oregon State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at 7 locations throughout Lane County after a year long investigation into large criminal marijuana manufacturing and processing ring. During the execution of the warrants law enforcement seized over 16,000 marijuana plants growing in 9 buildings on a property off of Crow Road outside Eugene. Approximately $280,000 in US currency, firearms as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicles and grow equipment were discovered to be directly involved in the operation. During the investigation it was learned that marijuana from the operation was being sold out of state to places including Texas, Minnesota, Arkansas and even as far away as France. One of those arrested was already on probation in Texas after he was caught shipping marijuana through the United States Postal Service.
An illegal professional-scale marijuana refinement facility was located and shut down on W. 12th Ave. in West Eugene as part of the operation. This site is located just feet from the Amazon Canal (See attached photos). The refinement facility contained large volumes of unregulated highly flammable materials that requires a full scale Hazmat crew to safely clean up. The cleanup process is ongoing.
Seven people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and more arrests are expected. Law enforcement was assisted at the scenes by Lane County Code Enforcement, the State of Oregon Watermasters, Eugene/Springfield Fire, and Eugene Code Enforcement. Several code and water violations were located, and the agencies are working to obtain compliance with those responsible.
LCSO Case # 23-0039
On March 15th, 2023, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas Interagency Narcotic Teams Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at numerous residences in the Eugene-Springfield area, a residence in Happy Valley (Clackamas County) and a grow location south of Eugene. Investigators seized over 12,000 marijuana plants and 3600 pounds of processed marijuana. Deputies had become aware of the grow location after several complaints from neighboring properties. The property contained two 60’X300’ buildings built strictly for marijuana production. LCSO began an investigation and through surveillance determined those responsible for the operation in Lane County resided in three houses in Lane County and one house in Happy Valley, Oregon. The three residences in Lane County were searched with the agencies listed above, while the Happy Valley location was secured by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. During searches of the involved residences, firearms, marijuana and over $400,000 in US Currency was located.
During the investigation deputies learned that several of the suspects had been involved in a 2017 organized criminal ring in King County Washington in what was described as a ‘TCO’ or Transcontinental Drug Trafficking Organization. During the Washington investigation it was learned that over 9 million dollars had been wired to China under different LLC names.
At two of the locations Law Enforcement found occupants unwilling to exit and in one case, at a residence on Q Street, a flash sound diversionary device was used to gain compliance.
Lane County detectives were assisted by Chinese interpreters from the FBI. During interviews it was learned that the workers at the grow had been promised between $3000-$5000 per month. One of the workers indicated he hadn’t been paid for 3-4 months and hadn’t received his promised pay for about one year. The worker indicated that they were made to work 7 days a week and 13 hour days to increase production. The worker told detectives he would like to leave, but couldn’t or he would never be paid for his work. The same worker revealed that the grow location off Dillard Road was the target of two armed robberies in the last two years that went unreported to police. In one of the robberies, the suspects pointed firearms at the workers and told them that they were police officers.
Three people were arrested for their involvement in the operation and investigations are ongoing.
These are very large-scale criminal operations. Individually, each of these grows was consuming approximately $500,000 per year in electricity.
Lane County Code Enforcement and the Oregon State Watermaster’s Office responded to these grow locations and are dealing with numerous violations regarding water use and building safety codes.
LCSO would like to thank all the partner agencies that assisted in these investigations as well as analytical help from the Oregon National Guard. Without the assistance of our partners, LCSO would not have adequate resources to investigate and dismantle these highly complex operations.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting search warrant service on a large scale criminal marijuana operation. Deputies are presently at multiple undisclosed locations within Lane County. This investigation is in its infancy and additional details cannot be released at this moment. More information will be provided when available. There is no threat to the public.
With the help of tips from the community, Winn was located this evening in good health.
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The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing endangered person. 23-year-old Aleha Marie Winn was last seen at her residence in the 39000blk of Ann Lane north of Marcola last night at approximately 10:00pm. Winn is developmentally disabled and functions as a 13-year-old.
Winn is described as a Hispanic female standing approximately 5’03” and weighing about 200lbs. She has shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. She may be wearing a light blue Captain America hooded sweatshirt. She also may have her pet hamster with her.
Anyone who has seen Winn or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Lane County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse members were recently disappointed to learn that vandals damaged their horse arena located at Mt. Pisgah. The vandals used spray paint to write hateful rhetoric designed to slander police on Sheriff’s Mounted Posse signs and storage containers. Damage is estimated to be over $1,000.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse is a non-profit 501(c)(3) group made up entirely of volunteers. This group donates their time and animals to serve our county in many ways. Not only does this group provide a space for equestrians to ride and improve their horsemanship skills, but they regularly donate the funds that they raise to other community organizations.
The Sheriff’s Mounted Posse also provides a vital service to our community in times of emergency. During the Holiday Farm Fire and Cedar Creek Fire, Sheriff’s Mounted Posse members volunteered their vehicles and expertise to transport the animals of evacuated residents that had no means to quickly move their animals to safety.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Posse is currently accepting applications for both adult and youth auxiliary members.
For more information on how to apply contact Sgt. Levi McKenny at levi.mckenny@lanecountyor.gov or visit the website at Lane County Sheriff's Mounted Posse - Lane County.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
On 03/01/2023 just prior to 6:00pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Gettings Creek Rest Area on Interstate 5 to assist the Springfield Police Department in locating a stalking suspect. The suspect, 48-year-old Shawn Tull, had fled from his car and disappeared somewhere at the rest area. Deputy Luke Thomas and his K9 partner, Bruno, arrived to assist with the search. Bruno immediately began tracking Tull’s scent past the rest area buildings, over a fence, and onto a trail through thick brush and located him hiding in thick blackberry bushes. Tull was taken into custody without further incident.
Deputy Thomas and Bruno are the newest K9 team at the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. They were certified and officially began working together in the beginning of February.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office K9 program is funded almost entirely through donations from citizens and local businesses. These funds go directly towards purchasing the K9s, training, necessary equipment, food, medical care, and other expenses related to the care of our K9 partners.
Information about the Lane County Sheriff K9 Team and how to donate can be found at: