Today, just before 10:00 a.m., the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office activated the Yamhill County Major Crimes Response Team after a severed human foot was located in a dumpster at the top of the boat ramp at Roger’s Landing Park just outside Newberg. The foot was located by a citizen looking for returnable bottles.  

It is believed at this time that the severed foot is the match to a foot found on the shore of the Willamette River near Champoeg Park in July of this year. 

Based on the types of trash items located with the foot, and the fact the foot was inside a gray Nike running shoe, investigators believe it may have been collected by a person or group cleaning up a beach or other area nearby. All items were found in a large, clear plastic trash bag. It is feasible that the shoe may have been picked up without anyone knowing a foot was inside.

Investigators are asking for assistance from the public at this time.  If you collected trash in the vicinity of Roger’s Landing or a nearby beach on the Willamette River within the last two weeks or are aware of anyone who has please contact Detective Todd Steele at steelet@co.yamhill.or.us or 503-434-7349.  

The case is ongoing at this time.

Benjamin Worden

Yesterday morning, at about 5:00 a.m. the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team (YCINT) served a search warrant at 112 SW Madison Street in the City of Sheridan.  The warrant was the result of an investigation into drug dealing and child endangerment.  The warrant service took place in the early morning hours to ensure students of nearby Sheridan High and Faulconer Chapman Elementary/Middle School were not nearby or commuting to school.

After making entry into the residence, investigators detained six individuals and found two small children inside.  The children, 2 and 5 years of age, were taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division. 

Methamphetamine, heroin, and evidence of drug dealing was located during the service of the warrant.  Two hand guns were also seized.

The following persons were taken into custody as a result of the search warrant and additoinal arrests are expected:

Michelle Suzanne Spittles, 28

112 SW Madison St. Sheridan, Or                

• Child Neglect in the First Degree, 2 counts
• Delivery of Heroin w/in 1,000’ of a School
• Delivery of Meth w/in 1,000’ of a School
• Possession of Heroin
• Possession of Meth

$87,500 bail                                                                                               

Zachary Michael Spittles, 27           

112 SW Madison St. Sheridan, Or

• Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon, 2 counts
• Unlawful Possession of Restricted Weapon, 3 counts
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, 2 counts
• Tillamook County Warrant

*Not eligible for bail

Kenneth Robert Wirth, 26, of Tillamook-                              

• Tillamook County Warrant
• Lincoln County Warrant
• Washington County Warrant

*Not eligible for bail

Benjamin Franklin Worden, 58, of Portland-       

• Lincoln County Warrant
• Multnomah County Warrant

*Not eligible for bail

Sheriff Tim Svenson, Board Chair of YCINT, emphasized the importance of search warrants that involve children exposed to drugs and the drug dealing lifestyle.  “When investigators learn that children are being exposed to drug use and sales, it creates a sense of urgency in the investigation.  I commend the team for the quick action they took in this investigation.  Hopefully two young children will be safer because of it.”

YCINT was assisted by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department. 

Three

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, along with our partners, the McMinnville Police Department, Newberg-Dundee Police Department, and Yamhill County Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division, hosted the Second Annual Yamhill County Crisis Intervention Team Training Program, which ran October 22 – 26, 2018. This 40-hour program provides vital training to foster understanding and provide the means to help those in our communities who are experiencing crisis. The training is offered to law enforcement and first responder agencies statewide. This year’s 15 graduatesincluded staff from the sponsoring agencies, as well as colleagues from Aumsville Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Idanha-Detroit Rural Fire Protection District, Linfield College Public Safety, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Svenson believes that it is important to be a presence in the community, and that includes being there for the many citizens that are experiencing crisis, whether it be individuals with long-standing mental health concerns, youth who need assistance with navigating today’s ever-changing environment, or those among our citizenry who have served our country in the armed forces and now need assistance with their civilian lives. It is his philosophy that there is more to law enforcement than simply being out enforcing laws and fighting crime. Crisis intervention is a vital component of the activities the Office provides, but Svenson also strongly believes that vulnerable populations such as these are not properly served by being in jail; hewould much rather work to facilitate their access to the mental health services they need in the community. YCSO continues to participate in the County’s Evidence Based Decision Making Initiative (EBDMI) program, partner with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Yamhill County to identify areas of concern or bring training to staff, and participate in collaborative partnerships, such as the Providence Medical Group’s (Newberg, OR) Community Behavioral Health Collaborative “Handle with Care” program, Champion Team, Provoking Hope, and Nurturing Newberg.

In addition to these partnerships, the Sheriff’s Office has identified two deputies – one each in the Enforcement and Corrections divisions – toserve as Crisis Intervention deputies. This is the next step in Sheriff Svenson’s long-term plan to implement a County-wide Crisis Response Team (CRT). These deputies will lead the efforts of theOffice to better respond to individuals in crisis, as well as serving as resources to agencies in our region by assisting with the development and training of their staff in crisis intervention and management. These deputies will also work closely with HHS’s Community Outreach Specialists (COS) to ensure that there is a continuity of care and awareness of individuals in our community who may need specialized care and support. 

“Educating our staff on the resources available to assist citizens in crisis is invaluable,” Svenson said. “We must be willing and able to reach out to an alliance of professionals who can best aid those in our midst who need help by providing the right services to our fellow citizens in their time of need.”