Lincoln City Police Dept Receives Accreditation (Photo)
-05/29/25
The Lincoln City Police Department is pleased to announce it was recently awarded its initial law enforcement agency accreditation from the Northwest Accreditation Alliance (NWAA). The accreditation was presented to Chief Dave Broderick by NWAA Executive Director Scott Hayes during an awards ceremony held at the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference in Pendleton, Oregon on April 17, 2025.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in LCPD’s commitment to maintaining the highest, best practice, standards in law enforcement and public safety. The accreditation process involved a rigorous independent evaluation of the department’s operations, policies, and practices to ensure compliance with NWAA’s professional standards. It recognizes LCPD’s dedication to professionalism, accountability, and the department’s primary goals of providing a high level of service to the community.
Update On Recent Shooting In Taft District (Photo)
-05/28/25
In the early morning of Monday, May 19, 2025, Lincoln City Police Officers responded to a shooting call in the area of SW 51st St and SW Ebb Ave. Upon arrival, they located a victim who had sustained multiple apparent gunshot wounds. The victim in this case has been identified as 52-year-old Scott Church, of Lincoln City. The suspect in the shooting, 43-year-old Justin Schimedel of Lincoln City, was arrested at the scene and initially charged with Assault I, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Pointing a Firearm at Another
On Sunday, May 25th, 2025, Scott Church succumbed to his injuries from the shooting. Mr. Church’s family has been notified of his death.
On May 27th, 2025, a Lincoln County Grand Jury indicted the suspect, Justin Schimedel on additional charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Manslaughter in the First Degree. He is currently being held without bail at the Lincoln County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please contact Detective “Bud” Lane or Detective John Goodman at 541-994-3636.
Submitted By: Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn
Two Subjects Arrested Following Online Luring Investigations (Photo)
-05/22/25
Over the past several months, LCPD Officers have conducted investigations involving Child Luring crimes. During these investigations, officers posed as underage children on various online social media platforms and were contacted by two separate adult men. These men then initiated sexually inappropriate conversations and sent sexually explicit photographs to these accounts, which they believed to be operated by juveniles in Lincoln County. The following arrests were made as a result of these investigations:
On May 14, 2025, Robert “Robbie” Powell, age 25 of Sheridan, was arrested after messaging multiple decoy accounts and initiating sexually inappropriate conversations. Powell was charged with Luring a Minor, and he was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail, where he remains.
On May 21, 2025, Ravi Joseph Grant Bemis, age 36, was arrested after messaging multiple decoy accounts, initiating sexually inappropriate conversations, and attempting to meet with a child for sex in Lincoln City. Bemis is from Lincoln City but currently resides in Sequim, WA. Bemis was charged with Luring a Minor x2 and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child 2nd Degree. He is currently lodged at the Clallam County Jail in Washington while he awaits extradition to Oregon.
Investigators believe there may be more victims and urge anyone with relevant information to call the Lincoln City Police Department at (541) 994-3636 and request to leave a message for Officer Z. Lane.
The Lincoln City Police Department would like to express our thanks to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office (WA) for their assistance in these investigations.
The Lincoln City Police wants to encourage parents to monitor their children's social media activity and discuss with them the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in a continuing effort to protect our children from predators who target children for sexual exploitation and to reduce crime and further enhance the safety of our community.
Submitted by: Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn
Suspect In Early Morning Shooting Taken Into Custody
-05/19/25
In the early morning of Monday, May 19, 2025, Lincoln City Police Officers were dispatched to the area of SW 51st St and SW Ebb Ave on a report of a shooting that had just occurred. Upon arrival, officers located a male adult victim who had who had multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Personnel from North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and Pacific West Ambulance also responded and began providing medical treatment at the scene before transporting the victim to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. The victim was later transported to Salem Hospital for additional medical treatment and surgery. The victim’s current condition is unknown at this time.
The suspect in the shooting, identified as 43-year-old Justin R. Schmeidal of Lincoln City, remained on scene and self-reported the shooting before being taken into custody. Lincoln City Police Detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation into the circumstances involved with the shooting. The handgun believed to be used was recovered, and there is currently no further danger to the public as a result of this incident.
Schmeidal was subsequently transported to the Lincoln City Police Department and later transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Assault I, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Pointing a Firearm at Another. Additional charges may be considered.
LCPD would like to express our thanks to North Lincoln Fire Rescue and Pacific West Ambulance for their assistance in this incident.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please contact Detective Lane or Detective Goodman at 541-994-3636.
Lincoln City Police Department Receives Award (Photo)
-05/13/25
On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Lincoln City Police Department was awarded the Gold Plaque Award from LEXIPOL, a policy management and training program designed to enhance employee knowledge and standardize department procedures. The Gold Plaque is the highest level of achievement awarded by LEXIPOL to agencies that complete daily training and regularly update their policies.
In receiving this award, the Lincoln City Police Department has shown a dedication to updating our policies and procedures, as well as training our employees. It is important for law enforcement agencies to keep up-to-date with the most recent case law, criminal procedures, and ethical standards, and using the LEXIPOL program is one of the ways we keep current in these areas.
The Lincoln City Police Department would like to recognize Lieutenant Jeffrey Winn, who spearheads the LEXIPOL program at our department by creating and updating our policies on a regular basis. He is also instrumental in ensuring LCPD employees are completing their training, and our department would not have achieved this award without his dedicated effort.
LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DRIVER ARRESTED FOR LURING A MINOR (Photo)
-05/09/25
On May 8th, 2025, the Lincoln City Police Department received a report of inappropriate communications between a Lincoln County School District school bus driver and a Taft 7-12 student. An investigation began immediately and steps were taken to ensure the driver had no more contact with students.
On May 9th, Josiah Lafrenz (21) of Lincoln City was arrested and charged with Luring a Minor and 2nd Degree Online Sex Corruption of a Child. He was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail and is awaiting his arraignment on Monday, May 12th.
The LCPD notified the Lincoln County School District of the investigation and arrest. Due to the potential for additional child victims, the LCPD is urging anyone with information regarding this investigation or similar circumstances to call us at (541) 994-3636 and reference case #25-5594.
As always, the LCPD encourages parents to monitor children’s cellular communications and internet usage, as well as educate them about the dangers posed by the strangers with whom they interact.
Arrests Made In Lincoln City Commercial Burglary
-05/06/25
In the early morning of April 30, 2025, Lincoln City Police Officers responded to a burglary alarm at Lee’s Chinese Restaurant. Upon arrival, Officers found the business had been broken into and the suspect(s) had fled. Officers found damage to equipment and property, as well as items stolen. Officers recovered evidence left by the suspect(s), and obtained video footage of a masked suspect burglarizing the business. Detectives were brought in and through further investigation, identified the suspect vehicle and later identified the two involved subjects.
On May 2, 2025, 38-year old Shanna Marie Martinez and 39-year-old Ontoniel Fuentes Garcia, both of Lincoln City, were taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Burglary 1, Possession of Burglary Tools, Theft 1 and Criminal Conspiracy.
At the time of his arrest, Fuentes Garcia was out on pretrial release for another burglary charge from an arrest by our agency in September 2024. Since her arrest, LCPD has additionally charged Martinez with two other burglaries involving residential properties in Lincoln City. These incidents are part of an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information related to these incidents should contact Det. Jon Humphreys.
LCPD would like to acknowledge and thank several local businesses and business owners who assisted us with this investigation by sharing security video footage that allowed us to identify and track the suspects in this case.
As we move into the spring and summer, LCPD encourages business owners and residents to keep their doors and windows locked, and utilize security systems, security cameras and alarms.