About FlashAlert on Twitter:
FlashAlert utilizes the free service Twitter to distribute emergency text messages. While you are welcome to register your cell phone text message address directly into the FlashAlert system, we recommend that you simply "follow" the FlashAlert account for Marion Co. Sheriff's Office by clicking on the link below and logging in to (or creating) your free Twitter account. Twitter sends messages out exceptionally fast thanks to arrangements they have made with the cell phone companies.
Click here to add Marion Co. Sheriff's Office to your Twitter account or create one.
@MCSOInTheKnow
Over the last several days the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has had a number of community members reach out to our team to ask questions about family gatherings, and the role the Sheriff’s Office will play in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a community, we all must work together to protect the health and well-being of our family and friends and to avoid overwhelming our local health service providers.
As you may remember, since the beginning of the pandemic, your team here at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized communication and continued education of our community members about this public health crisis. As law enforcement professionals, our continued focus will be to help educate our community members about recommended best practices which have been shared by public health professionals. As a community it’s important we work together to make informed decisions based upon up to date medical data and work collaboratively toward voluntary compliance.
As expressed by law enforcement agencies from across the state, we too recognize the inconvenience and health risks the pandemic has caused all of us. We know the risk to our most vulnerable populations is extremely high at this time and we urge everyone to follow these recommendations to protect them. We are all in this together.
We recognize that we cannot arrest or enforce our way out of the pandemic, and we believe both are counterproductive to public health goals. We can work together in following these recommendations to make our communities a safer and healthier place.
If you find yourself at a location where you are uncomfortable with the situation, we recommend you remove yourself from that area or situation. We include the following recommendations if you feel the need to report potential violations of these restrictions:
- Business/workplace violations – you may report these to Oregon OSHA
- Restaurant/Bars – you may report these violations to OSHA or OLCC.
Our law enforcement resources are faced with many challenges, often receiving more police calls for service than available resources to respond. Because of this, we are asking the public to follow the above-mentioned recommendations if they feel the need to report alleged violations of current public health restrictions.
Marion County Sheriff's Office detectives need the public’s help locating a missing and possibly endangered 28-year-old man. Trever Bearden last communicated with his family on September 22, 2020, and has not been seen or heard from since.
Mr. Bearden’s family and friends believe he may be endangered. It is unknown if Mr. Bearden is still in the Marion County area, as there has been no activity on his social media accounts. Special attention is asked for the public to be on the lookout in the areas of Linn and Benton Counties, specifically, the cities of Albany and Corvallis.
Anyone with information which may be helpful to this investigation is encouraged to call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 503-540-8079; or you may submit a tip anonymously, at https://www.co.marion.or.us/SO/Pages/tip411.aspx.
Investigators are seeking community tips to help solve a fatal hit and run crash reported to deputies on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 in the Brooks area of Marion County. At approximately 10:34 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 4800 block of Brooklake Road NE after an anonymous caller reported an unconscious man lying in the roadway, appearing to have been struck by a vehicle. While the caller was waiting for emergency responders to arrive, they reported seeing a second vehicle, described as a white 2000's Chevrolet Camaro, run over the man. The anonymous caller left the scene before deputies or medical personnel arrived. Tragically, the victim, Scottie Parker, 38, died as a result of his injuries.
Specialized crash investigators from the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and determined Mr. Parker was struck by two separate vehicles. The first vehicle is believed to be a light colored 2003 - 2007 Chevrolet or GMC 2500 or 3500 pickup.
Deputies are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash, including the original anonymous caller, or who have information about either vehicle involved in the hit and run to contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Tips can be called in to the tip line at 503-540-8079, or submitted anonymously online at https://www.co.marion.or.us/SO/Pages/tip411.aspx.
Video Link: Exerpts from original 911 can be found at https://youtu.be/O-5HbqyZILo.
On November 1st, 2020, at approximately 9:45 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a serious injury motor vehicle crash on River Road S near Vitae Springs Road S. When emergency crews arrived on scene, they located a silver 2003 Dodge Neon down an embankment with three occupants inside. Upon arrival, a female passenger in the vehicle was pronounced deceased. The driver and one passenger from the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The deceased passenger has been identified as Melissa Hunt, 23, of Monmouth. The driver and surviving passenger sustained what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries during the crash.
Investigators from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office CRASH team were called to the scene. The preliminary investigation revealed the Dodge Neon had been traveling southbound on River Road S prior to leaving the roadway, speed is believed to have been a contributing factor to the crash.
This is an ongoing investigation; no additional information is available for release at this time.
At approximately 2:07 p.m. on October 31st, 2020, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a water rescue on the Santiam River near the confluence with the Willamette River. The caller reported both he and another person had fallen into the Santiam River off of a 15 foot aluminum boat while fishing. The caller told dispatchers he was able to make it to shore safely; the other person from the boat was still unaccounted for. Prior to emergency crews arriving on scene, kayakers located the missing person in the water and were able to bring him to shore. The kayakers began to administer CPR to the victim in an attempt to resuscitate him. An ambulance from the Jefferson Fire District transported the patient to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.
The deceased boater has been identified as Gary Schweitzer, 64, of Clackamas. The other person from the boat was not injured. The family of the victim is requesting no contact from the media as they grieve this tragic loss.
Deputies investigating the incident determined neither person in the boat was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted during this response by the Jefferson Fire District, Salem Fire Department, and Albany Fire Department.