Detectives Investigate Fatal Shooting In Gaston - 06/21/26

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 9:16 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers from the Forest Grove Police Department responded to a shooting near the 400 block of Vista Ridge Court in Gaston. Multiple people called 9-1-1 to report that a person was shot. Law enforcement arrived on scene and detained the involved shooter, Christopher Maller, 48, of Beaverton.

Neighbors and responders rendered aid to the victim, 42-year-old Christopher Serafin, but he died of his injuries at the scene. Detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit responded to lead the investigation. Investigators interviewed multiple witnesses and learned that the shooting occurred after an altercation between Maller and Serafin. 

Maller was charged with murder in the second degree and was lodged in the Washington County Jail. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are likely. Serafin’s family has been notified of his death. 

If you witnessed this incident and have not spoken with detectives, please contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 503-846-2500 and reference case number 50-26-8646.

Deputies Arrest Man Attempting To Burglarize A Home (Photo) - 06/18/26

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 4:48 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a criminal mischief near the 5000 block of NW 171st Place in unincorporated Washington County.

The 9-1-1 caller reported finding window screens removed, damage to the window casing, and an unknown man in the backyard. The suspected burglar ran off with the caller’s husband chasing him while she relayed information to dispatch. The man attacked the caller’s husband, causing minor injuries, and took his keys, before continuing to run away.

Multiple deputies, K9 teams, and drone operators responding to search for the man contained the area. Deputy Oien and K9 Rexx tracked the man as he ran through neighboring properties, jumped fences, ran across a roof, and through another home, before being captured by a deputy near the 1700 block of NW Countryridge Drive.

The man, identified as 20-year-old Favian Rincon of Portland, was transported to jail and lodged for the following:

• Attempt to commit burglary
• Assault in the fourth degree
• Criminal mischief in the first degree
• Criminal trespass in the first degree
• Theft in the third degree

If you have information about this incident and have not spoken to deputies, please contact the Sheriff’s Office through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 50-26-8482. 

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Missing Person Alert Update: Robert “Paul” Dickson LOCATED (Photo) - 06/17/26

Missing Person Alert Update: Located 

Missing Person Alert: Robert “Paul” Dickson  

Deputies are seeking help locating Paul Dickson, 72, of Forest Grove. Paul was last seen around 4:00 p.m. on June 17, 2026, near the 4000 block of NW Thatcher Road. Paul is 6’ tall and approximately 170 lbs., with silver hair and hazel eyes. He is believed to be wearing a baseball cap, blue jeans, and a blue or Hawaiian-style shirt. Paul left the area in a 2024 green Subaru Outback with license plate 733 PJD.

Paul has a cognitive impairment that may make him seem lost or confused, and he needs daily medical care. He does not have a cell phone with him.

If you have seen Paul or have information on his whereabouts, please call 9-1-1.  

Deputies Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash On SW Scholls Ferry Road - 06/16/26

On Monday, June 15, 2026, at about 4:45 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a traffic crash on SW Scholls Ferry Road near the intersection of SW Hillsboro Highway (219), between an SUV and a motorcycle.

Investigators learned the motorcycle rider was heading down SW Scholls Ferry Road when they crashed into a Mercedes SUV turning onto SW Hillsboro Highway. Witnesses attempted life-saving efforts but were unsuccessful. Medical personnel declared the rider deceased shortly after arriving.

The Medical Examiner identified the rider as 32-year-old Brandon Henderson of Albany. Brandon’s family has been notified of his death and has asked for privacy.

The driver of the Mercedes SUV is cooperating with the investigation, and no arrests have been made. The Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) is investigating.

If you witnessed this crash and have not spoken to investigators, please contact the Sheriff's Office through non-emergency dispatch at 5030-629-0111 and reference case number 50-26-8358. 

Five People Arrested In Undercover Child Predator Sting (Photo) - 06/05/26

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsboro Police Department conducted a child predator sting where investigators used multiple dating applications, social media sites, and other online platforms to pose as underage boys and girls. The people contacted the profiles online and offered to meet a person they believed to be a child for sex. When individuals arrived to meet the child or took substantial steps toward that, they were instead contacted by law enforcement and arrested.

During the mission, several individuals immediately terminated their conversations when they realized they were speaking to someone who explicitly provided their specific age and identified as a minor.

The following people were arrested for luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child:

• Ashwin Chand, 23, of Beaverton
• Brendan Cook, 22, of Portland
• Craig Xiap-Jelkes, 28, of Hillsboro
• Christopher Stone, 38, of Hillsboro
• Robert Gerdes, 60, of Hillsboro

Detectives believe there may be more victims of these individuals.

The Sheriff’s Office regularly conducts undercover operations, both full-scale stings and day-to-day chats, targeting child predators. The Sheriff’s Office receives thousands of child abuse reports each year, and these proactive missions are designed to identify and contact people before they victimize an actual child.

Parents are encouraged to help their children be safe online and to be aware of the websites and mobile applications their kids are using. The Sheriff’s Office provides online safety education for parents and community organizations upon request.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Beaverton Police Department for their partnership in assisting with the sting.

Anyone with information about any of the individuals listed is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 503-846-2500.

The release of these booking photos is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.

Deputies Arrest Man After Lengthy K9 Track - 06/03/26

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a theft at Ace Hardware at 3470 SW 185th Avenue in Aloha, learning that the male suspect had left in a vehicle. Deputies investigating the theft found the suspect driving on SW 201st Avenue and attempted to stop the driver.

The driver eluded and crashed his vehicle into another vehicle near SW 201st Ave and SW Baseline Road before crashing into a second vehicle near SW 185th Ave and SW Baseline Rd, which disabled his car. Fortunately, the occupants of the other vehicles were not seriously injured. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the driver had fled the crash and called for a K9 to assist with tracking. Deputy Oien and K9 Rexx responded as deputies set up containment.

Multiple 911 callers reported seeing the suspect run through neighborhoods and jump fences. Corporal Terry and K9 Griff assisted with the track as the suspect continued to run. Both K9 teams worked together to narrow the distance between them and the fleeing suspect.

After nearly three hours of tracking, Deputy Oien and K9 Rexx located the suspect hiding under a tarp in a backyard near the 19000 block of SW Johnson Road.

The suspect, 40-year-old Moua Thao of Beaverton, was arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail for the following:

• Attempt to elude in a vehicle
• Hit and run
• Assault in the fourth degree
• Reckless driving
• Theft in the second degree
• Washington County warrant
• Oregon Parole Board warrant

The Beaverton Police Department and deputies added additional charges for other open cases involving theft and driving offenses once Thao was in jail.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the community for their help in locating Thao. If you have additional information related to this investigation and have not spoken with deputies, please contact the Sheriff’s Office through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111, referencing case number 50-26-7537.

Detectives Seeking Additional Victims In Sex Abuse Case (Photo) - 06/02/26

On May 16, 2026, Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) detectives began investigating a sexual assault case involving 53-year-old Jacob Joaquin Mandes. Sr. Detectives with the Astoria Police Department reached out after getting information that Mandes admitted to a family member that he had sexually assaulted a child in Cornelius.

WCSO Violent Crimes Unit detectives developed probable cause to arrest Mandes for numerous crimes that occurred over the past 10 years. Working with Astoria Police, the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, detectives had Mandes arrested the same day the report was made. On May 20, a Washington County grand jury then indicted Mandes for the following crimes:

• Rape in the first degree (2 counts)
• Sodomy in the first degree (2 counts)
• Sodomy in the second degree (2 counts)
• Unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree (2 counts)
• Sexual abuse in the second degree (11 counts)

A Washington County judge ordered Mandes held without the possibility of release while the case is pending. Additional charges are possible as the case continues.

Based on the investigation to date, detectives believe there may be additional victims. Mandes has lived or worked in Washington, Columbia, and Clatsop counties in the past. His address history includes Cornelius, Hillsboro, Astoria, and Vernonia.

If you would like to speak with detectives, please call 503-846-2500 and reference case 50-26-6744.

The release of Mades’ booking photo is for law enforcement purposes and is in accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273 for the identification of additional criminal activity.