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 Douglas 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 Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office to your Twitter account or create one.
@DouglasCoSO
GLIDE, Ore. - The human remains found in the middle of February near Glide have been positively identified.
On Thursday, February 16, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by a caller that his son, who had been antler shed hunting, located what were believed to be human remains in the Thunder Mountain area of Glide.
Deputies located the area described and confirmed the presence of skeletal human remains. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division and Medical Examiner were notified and have been investigating the incident since the discovery.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the remains of those belonging to Megan Dyanne Wendel of Roseburg. Wendel was previously reported missing to the Roseburg Police Department in July of 2022. She was 36-years-old at the time of her disappearance.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is continuing the investigation into her death, which is considered suspicious. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4471 referencing Case #23-0618.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - I want to remind the community about the training sessions my staff will be participating in this week. The training sessions start tomorrow, Tuesday March 28, 2023, and will run through Thursday, March 30, 2023, which will take place at Green and Sunnyslope Elementary Schools from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Due to the nature of the training, it may appear that there is an emergency at the schools. In reality, we are taking advantage of the Roseburg School District’s Spring Break to conduct maintenance training on the campuses related to active threat responses. We will have signs displayed indicating the activity is a training exercise. I ask that you share information with your friends and neighbors that there is no emergency.
I am extremely thankful for the partnerships we have with our local school districts who work collaboratively with us to keep our children and students safe. I extend my deepest thanks to Superintendent Cordon and his staff who have made this year’s training session possible. I also wish to thank the residents around the schools where we are conducting the training in advance for their understanding.
As always, the men and women of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office strive daily to uphold our core values of efficiency in our work, integrity, commitment to the highest performance standards and pride in our professional level of service. This training session is just one of the ways that we accomplish that.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will be holding an in-service training for Sheriff’s Office deputies and staff from all divisions during Roseburg School District's Spring Break. The training will take place Tuesday, March 28th -Thursday, March 30th.
The training will be held at Green and Sunnyslope Elementary schools. DCSO staff will receive instruction in First Aid/CPR and ethics. Deputies will also participate in scenario based training. These continuing education hours keep deputies current with their certification requirements mandated by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and to maintain a professional level of service.
In the interest of public notification and awareness, community members should be aware that the scenario based training will look like an active shooter/active threat response. Simulated gunfire, yelling and a general police presence may be observed by community members in the area. Signage will be present indicating a training exercise is in session.
"We believe it is vitally important to train our deputies in the response of active threats. The use of scenario based training provides the deputies with the most realistic training possible and helps to develop them professionally in order to better serve our communities," said Lt. Brad O'Dell. “We are thankful to the Roseburg School District for their support and hospitality in hosting this important training session.
Roseburg School District Superintendent Jared Cordon said he is grateful for the ongoing partnership between the district and local law enforcement agencies.
“We appreciate the opportunity to support the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in their training efforts,” Cordon said. “The more we work together to plan and prepare for potential emergencies, the safer our schools and community will be.”
For the safety of the community and deputies, the school campus will be closed to the public during the training sessions each day, which start at 7:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.
Any public questions should be directed to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 541-440-4450 or dcso.pio@co.douglas.or.us.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Sheriff's Office has arrested three individuals for their involvement in a series of armed robberies that occurred between February 9th and February 12th, 2023.
The Log Cabin Grocery was robbed on February 9th and then on February 12th, the Winchester Market and the Dillard Market were robbed. The Sheriff's Office along with the Roseburg Police Department investigated the robberies. During the course of the investigation 33 year old Dillon Oden of Roseburg and 33 year old Aurelio Sandoval of Los Angeles were developed as suspects.
On March 12th, 2023, Sheriff's Deputies responded to a disturbance in the Green area that involved stolen property and a firearm. During the course of that investigation, deputies arrested Oden and Sandoval on charges related to the disturbance. Sheriff's Detectives responded to the scene and subsequently served a search warrant. Detectives identified 29 year old Sabastian Tucker of Myrtle Creek as a third suspect in the robberies.
On March 15th, all three suspects were arrested and charged with multiple charges relating to the armed robberies including First Degree Robbery.
###
*** UPDATE 03/15/2023 7:10 AM ***
ROSEBURG, ORE. - Mr. Reagles has been located in the 1300-block of Almira in Roseburg. He is no longer missing. Additional details will be released by the Roseburg Police Department.
###
*** ORIGINAL RELEASE 03/15/2023 6:00 AM ***
ROSEBURG, ORE. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Division has been assisting the Roseburg Police Department in searching for Robert (Bob) Reagles, an 89-year-old man with dementia who is believed to have walked away from his home in the 1600-block of NW Kline Street Tuesday evening.
Reagles was discovered missing from his home at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Roseburg, OR. It is believed that he walked away from his residence between 9:15 pm and 11:30 pm Tuesday night. Reagles, who has medical diagnoses, including dementia, is believed to be at-risk. He is 5'09" 130lbs with white/brown hair. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and white boxer/shorts and is believed to be barefoot.
Residents in the area are urged to check their video surveillance and their properties for any signs that Mr. Reagles may have been walked past or entered their property and to contact the Roseburg Police Department at (541) 440-4471 to report any possible sightings.
Roseburg PD Case #23-1271, Douglas County Sheriff's Office Case #23-0940
YONCALLA, Ore. - A Yoncalla man died in a single vehicle traffic crash Thursday evening.
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, shortly before 6:00 p.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received reports of a single vehicle crash in the 1900-block of Hayhurst Road in Yoncalla.
Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2012 Dodge Caravan, which had been traveling north on Hayhurst Road, off of the roadway. The driver was identified as 67-year-old John Fred Kowal of Yoncalla. Kowal was pronounced deceased at the scene by E.M.S. Kowal, the only occupant in the vehicle, was not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.
Indications at the scene and from witness statements are that Kowal's vehicle had entered into the path of an oncoming vehicle in a corner when Kowal made a sharp correction and leaving the roadway. Speed and alcohol are suspected to be contributing factors in the incident.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by North Douglas Fire & E.M.S. and Lougheads Automotive & Towing.
ROSEBURG, Ore. - The identity of the man who died in the officer involved shooting Tuesday morning has been released by investigators.
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 12:45 a.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received multiple reports of a disturbance at the Roseburg Senior Center where several individuals had been stabbed by a male who was utilizing the warming center. Officers from the Roseburg Police Department responded to the scene. A male suspect, 20-year-old Mia Tulasi Dasa of Grants Pass, refused to comply with officer’s directives and attempts to de-escalate the situation and the use of non-lethal levels of force. Ultimately, an officer utilized lethal force against the subject who died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts.
The police officer remains on paid administrative leave per the agency's policy.
No additional details are expected to be released at this time. The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is investigating the incident with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assigned as the lead investigating agency for the officer involved shooting. The Roseburg Police Department is investigating the assaults against those utilizing the warming center.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is participating in a state-wide speed awareness campaign beginning March 1 and runs through March 31, 2023.
Funding for the enhanced patrols is obtained through grants administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Deputies will be assigned to work overtime throughout the county specifically tasked with educating drivers on speed related violations.
According to NHTSA, in 2020, 11,258 people were killed in speed related crashes in the United States. That same year, 53% of speeding drivers in fatal crashes were not wearing safety belts.
For more information related to the dangers of speeding, please visit: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office participated in a Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign Monday, January 30 - Sunday February 12, 2023.
Utilizing grant dollars administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation, 5 deputies utilized a total of 22 hours of enhanced safety belt and child restraint law enforcement grant funding during the enforcement period. During the course of the efforts, deputies made the following contacts:
• 26 Warnings for Speed
• 1 Citation for Speed
• 3 Citations for Driving While Suspended
• 1 Citation for No Seatbelt
• 1 Warning for No Seatbelt
• 2 Distracted Driving Citations
• 3 Citations for Equipment Violations
• 3 Warnings for Equipment Violations
• 63 Other Warnings and Citations
• 1 Arrest for Littering within 100 yards of a Waterway
According to NHTSA, in 2020, there were 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 58% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts.