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News Release

Recent Scams Target Locals With Threats Of Arrest, Legal Trouble - 05/22/26

Date: May 22, 2026

Case #s: 2026-00026865 
2026-00026842 
2026-00025741

Incident: Recent scams target locals with threats of arrest, legal trouble

 

Over the past several weeks, Bend Police have seen a significant uptick in scammers posing as members of law enforcement and demanding money to pay for warrants.

 

Officers took a case on May 15 of a Bend woman who received a call from a number identified as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The caller alleged the victim missed federal jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest. At the caller’s direction, the victim deposited approximately $7,000 into a Bitcoin ATM in Bend. 

 

In one instance reported to Bend Police on May 21, a Bend woman received a phone call and text message with a court document claiming she owed $4,500 for failing to show up for jury duty in Deschutes County. She sent the funds directly to the caller through a banking app. 

 

In another case reported on the same day, a Bend man reported he received a call that he had a warrant for failing to appear at a trial. The caller directed the victim to deposit $10,000 in a Bitcoin ATM. The victim deposited $2,900 before the ATM stopped working.

 

These are just a few of the recent scams our officers have seen, and they have a few things in common. The scammers pose as members of law enforcement, typically using VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone numbers, which transmit voice calls over the internet and cannot be traced. The numbers sometimes spoof legitimate phone numbers for law enforcement agencies. The scammers direct victims to take out cash and deposit it in a Bitcoin ATM or buy gift cards and share photos of the gift card codes with the scammers. The scammers often have a lot of personal information about the victims, which makes their scam seem more legitimate.

 

Money lost in these scams is almost never recovered, and in 2025 the federal government received upwards of 1 million reports of scams. 

 

Law enforcement will never call, text or email you demanding money. Law enforcement and federal agencies do not ask for payments through gift cards or Bitcoin. 

 
Do not transfer money into Bitcoin ATMs or online apps at the behest of any agency or business. 

 

Not sure if it’s a scam? Trust your gut and hang up. Call the law enforcement agency to verify the call. Don’t trust caller ID – a scammer can fake the number they’re calling from. 

 

Have you been the victim of a scam? Call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 to report it and file a complaint with the FBI at www.IC3.gov.

Recent Scams Target Locals With Threats Of Arrest, Legal Trouble - 05/22/26

Date: May 22, 2026

Case #s: 2026-00026865 
2026-00026842 
2026-00025741

Incident: Recent scams target locals with threats of arrest, legal trouble

 

Over the past several weeks, Bend Police have seen a significant uptick in scammers posing as members of law enforcement and demanding money to pay for warrants.

 

Officers took a case on May 15 of a Bend woman who received a call from a number identified as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The caller alleged the victim missed federal jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest. At the caller’s direction, the victim deposited approximately $7,000 into a Bitcoin ATM in Bend. 

 

In one instance reported to Bend Police on May 21, a Bend woman received a phone call and text message with a court document claiming she owed $4,500 for failing to show up for jury duty in Deschutes County. She sent the funds directly to the caller through a banking app. 

 

In another case reported on the same day, a Bend man reported he received a call that he had a warrant for failing to appear at a trial. The caller directed the victim to deposit $10,000 in a Bitcoin ATM. The victim deposited $2,900 before the ATM stopped working.

 

These are just a few of the recent scams our officers have seen, and they have a few things in common. The scammers pose as members of law enforcement, typically using VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone numbers, which transmit voice calls over the internet and cannot be traced. The numbers sometimes spoof legitimate phone numbers for law enforcement agencies. The scammers direct victims to take out cash and deposit it in a Bitcoin ATM or buy gift cards and share photos of the gift card codes with the scammers. The scammers often have a lot of personal information about the victims, which makes their scam seem more legitimate.

 

Money lost in these scams is almost never recovered, and in 2025 the federal government received upwards of 1 million reports of scams. 

 

Law enforcement will never call, text or email you demanding money. Law enforcement and federal agencies do not ask for payments through gift cards or Bitcoin. 

 
Do not transfer money into Bitcoin ATMs or online apps at the behest of any agency or business. 

 

Not sure if it’s a scam? Trust your gut and hang up. Call the law enforcement agency to verify the call. Don’t trust caller ID – a scammer can fake the number they’re calling from. 

 

Have you been the victim of a scam? Call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 to report it and file a complaint with the FBI at www.IC3.gov.

Local Stakeholders Urge Riders To Stay Safe, Legal This Season - 05/21/26

Local stakeholders urge riders to stay safe, legal this season

 

As the weather warms up, the Bend community sees a big increase in the number of road users, and it’s a good time to remember some safety tips and laws to ensure everyone stays safe on our streets.  

 

The Bend Police Department, in collaboration with Bend Fire & Rescue, Bend-La Pine Schools, Bend Park & Recreation District, St. Charles Health System and the Old Mill District, wants to remind our community members about the importance of traveling safely this summer while using e-bikes. 

 

Let’s start with the basics: 

  • You cannot legally ride an e-bike if you are under the age of 16. (Note: Oregon HB 4007 makes age changes effective Jan. 1, 2027, but at this time the legal age to ride e-bikes remains 16)

  • You cannot ride an e-bike on the sidewalk. 

  • You must obey all traffic laws while riding an e-bike, including riding on the correct side of the road and stopping at stop signs and red lights. 

  • Many of the vehicles being marketed as e-bikes are actually electric motorcycles that can travel upwards of 40 MPH and are not legal on any roads or trails in city limits. 

But this is about much more than whether someone is breaking the law by riding something that isn’t street legal. It’s about safety. 

 

Over the past year, Bend Fire medics responded to 38 e-bike crashes. St. Charles treated 83 patients with injuries related to e-bikes in 2025, up from 63 in 2024. And that trend is continuing in 2026, as St. Charles reports the volume of patients with e-bike related injuries are about 50% higher than last year. 

Both adults and children have been injured in these incidents. 

 
"E-bikes are a great way to get around and enjoy Central Oregon, but we are seeing more patients come to the emergency department with serious injuries after crashes. These injuries continue to increase. These injuries can be as simple as a broken bone, but they are often much more severe, including internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even death,” said Dr. Jon Roberts, trauma doctor with St. Charles. “Basic safety is key. A helmet is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of life-changing injury. Ride predictably, follow the rules of the road, stay alert to traffic around you, and never ride an e-bike while intoxicated." 

 

We are asking adults to know the rules and follow them. That includes parents. We know e-bikes and electric motorcycles are fun, and we know they’re convenient. But allowing children to ride electric motorcycles that can travel at high speeds is simply dangerous. Need proof? A 14-year-old rider in Orange County, Calif., recently struck and killed an 81-year-old man. The child’s mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Please don’t buy your children e-bikes if they’re not legally allowed to ride them.  

 

Remember, the Bend-La Pine Schools do not allow e-bikes on elementary or middle-school campuses, because no one attending those schools can legally ride them. Both the Old Mill District and the Bend Park & Recreation District also have specific rules regarding e-bike use. 

 

Bend Park & Recreation District allows pedal-assisted e-bikes in parks and on trails. Throttle e-bikes can only be used on roads or parking areas. 

 

“The number one thing we hear from our park and trail users is that they want e-bike riders to slow down,” said Julie Brown, BPRD Community Engagement Director. “We want all of our residents and visitors to enjoy their time in our parks and on our trails, and that means sharing trails and pathways and being aware of everyone’s safety.”

 

The Old Mill District is adding speed calming initiatives to the trails and at the entrances to the property in an effort to reduce e-bikers' speeds. The Old Mill District is private property that can trespass riders who refuse to follow its rules. 

 

Both BPRD and the Old Mill District will have signs along trails this summer to remind users – both locals and tourists – to slow down, play by the rules, and keep each other safe.

 

“We’ve all heard from concerned community members who want us to address the issue of e-bikes on our roads,” Sheila Miller, Bend Police Communications Manager, said. “But our agencies can’t solve this problem alone. We need the public’s help.” 

 

What can you do? 

  • Know the rules of the road. Commute Options offers an e-bike safety course to help riders stay safe. The City of Bend also has a handy guide that includes how to safely navigate a roundabout on an e-bike. 

  • Know where you can ride it safely and legally. Visit Bend offers a comprehensive guide of locations where various types of e-bikes are allowed. Also check out the park and trail rules. 

 

  • Thinking about buying an e-bike? Do your research. Many of the electric vehicles we’re seeing on the roads right now are not street legal. General rules to know: if it doesn’t have pedals, it is not an e-bike. And even if it has pedals, the Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes' motors cut off at 20 MPH and Class 3 e-bikes' motors stop helping at 28 MPH. If you are considering purchasing something with a large motor and speeds advertised above 28 MPH, it’s an electric dirt bike or motorcycle and is not allowed on our roads. 

Local Stakeholders Urge Riders To Stay Safe, Legal This Season - 05/21/26

Local stakeholders urge riders to stay safe, legal this season

 

As the weather warms up, the Bend community sees a big increase in the number of road users, and it’s a good time to remember some safety tips and laws to ensure everyone stays safe on our streets.  

 

The Bend Police Department, in collaboration with Bend Fire & Rescue, Bend-La Pine Schools, Bend Park & Recreation District, St. Charles Health System and the Old Mill District, wants to remind our community members about the importance of traveling safely this summer while using e-bikes. 

 

Let’s start with the basics: 

  • You cannot legally ride an e-bike if you are under the age of 16. (Note: Oregon HB 4007 makes age changes effective Jan. 1, 2027, but at this time the legal age to ride e-bikes remains 16)

  • You cannot ride an e-bike on the sidewalk. 

  • You must obey all traffic laws while riding an e-bike, including riding on the correct side of the road and stopping at stop signs and red lights. 

  • Many of the vehicles being marketed as e-bikes are actually electric motorcycles that can travel upwards of 40 MPH and are not legal on any roads or trails in city limits. 

But this is about much more than whether someone is breaking the law by riding something that isn’t street legal. It’s about safety. 

 

Over the past year, Bend Fire medics responded to 38 e-bike crashes. St. Charles treated 83 patients with injuries related to e-bikes in 2025, up from 63 in 2024. And that trend is continuing in 2026, as St. Charles reports the volume of patients with e-bike related injuries are about 50% higher than last year. 

Both adults and children have been injured in these incidents. 

 
"E-bikes are a great way to get around and enjoy Central Oregon, but we are seeing more patients come to the emergency department with serious injuries after crashes. These injuries continue to increase. These injuries can be as simple as a broken bone, but they are often much more severe, including internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even death,” said Dr. Jon Roberts, trauma doctor with St. Charles. “Basic safety is key. A helmet is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of life-changing injury. Ride predictably, follow the rules of the road, stay alert to traffic around you, and never ride an e-bike while intoxicated." 

 

We are asking adults to know the rules and follow them. That includes parents. We know e-bikes and electric motorcycles are fun, and we know they’re convenient. But allowing children to ride electric motorcycles that can travel at high speeds is simply dangerous. Need proof? A 14-year-old rider in Orange County, Calif., recently struck and killed an 81-year-old man. The child’s mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Please don’t buy your children e-bikes if they’re not legally allowed to ride them.  

 

Remember, the Bend-La Pine Schools do not allow e-bikes on elementary or middle-school campuses, because no one attending those schools can legally ride them. Both the Old Mill District and the Bend Park & Recreation District also have specific rules regarding e-bike use. 

 

Bend Park & Recreation District allows pedal-assisted e-bikes in parks and on trails. Throttle e-bikes can only be used on roads or parking areas. 

 

“The number one thing we hear from our park and trail users is that they want e-bike riders to slow down,” said Julie Brown, BPRD Community Engagement Director. “We want all of our residents and visitors to enjoy their time in our parks and on our trails, and that means sharing trails and pathways and being aware of everyone’s safety.”

 

The Old Mill District is adding speed calming initiatives to the trails and at the entrances to the property in an effort to reduce e-bikers' speeds. The Old Mill District is private property that can trespass riders who refuse to follow its rules. 

 

Both BPRD and the Old Mill District will have signs along trails this summer to remind users – both locals and tourists – to slow down, play by the rules, and keep each other safe.

 

“We’ve all heard from concerned community members who want us to address the issue of e-bikes on our roads,” Sheila Miller, Bend Police Communications Manager, said. “But our agencies can’t solve this problem alone. We need the public’s help.” 

 

What can you do? 

  • Know the rules of the road. Commute Options offers an e-bike safety course to help riders stay safe. The City of Bend also has a handy guide that includes how to safely navigate a roundabout on an e-bike. 

  • Know where you can ride it safely and legally. Visit Bend offers a comprehensive guide of locations where various types of e-bikes are allowed. Also check out the park and trail rules. 

 

  • Thinking about buying an e-bike? Do your research. Many of the electric vehicles we’re seeing on the roads right now are not street legal. General rules to know: if it doesn’t have pedals, it is not an e-bike. And even if it has pedals, the Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes' motors cut off at 20 MPH and Class 3 e-bikes' motors stop helping at 28 MPH. If you are considering purchasing something with a large motor and speeds advertised above 28 MPH, it’s an electric dirt bike or motorcycle and is not allowed on our roads. 

Stolen Toyota That Was Recovered-two People Arrested (Photo) - 05/18/26

Case Number: 2021-00019294

Date and Time: Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 2:59 a.m.

Location: 60000 block of Sally Lane, Bend

 

Arrested: Kory William Brown, 44 year old male, California

Arrested: XXXXXXXXXXXX, 27 year old female, Albany

 

Victim vehicle: 2013, silver, Toyota Tacoma

 

On Saturday, April 10th around 3 a.m., Bend Police responded to the 60000 block of Sally Lane in Bend for a report of a Toyota that was just stolen from a driveway. The caller saw two people in the Toyota as it drove away, out of the subdivision. The owner of the Toyota left the keys inside, with the doors unlocked. Officers arrived in the area and were not able to locate the pickup right away.

About 40 minutes after the theft, an officer was in the area of NE 27th Street at NE Highway 20 East when the stolen silver Toyota was located, with two people inside.  Officers conducted a traffic stop at Highway 20 East at NE Dalton Street. The driver, Kory Brown was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The passenger would not provide her name to officers. She was also arrested, and through investigation, she was determined to be XXXXXXXXXXXX. Officers learned she was listed as a missing person out of Linn County.

Kory Brown and XXXXXXXXXXXX were both arrested and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The Toyota was returned to the owner.

 

Bend Police would like to remind our community members to always lock your vehicle, with the windows rolled up, and never leave your keys or valuables inside your vehicle.

 

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

 

Attached Media Files: Press Release Photo,

Stolen Toyota That Was Recovered-two People Arrested (Photo) - 05/18/26

Case Number: 2021-00019294

Date and Time: Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 2:59 a.m.

Location: 60000 block of Sally Lane, Bend

 

Arrested: Kory William Brown, 44 year old male, California

Arrested: XXXXXXXXXXXX, 27 year old female, Albany

 

Victim vehicle: 2013, silver, Toyota Tacoma

 

On Saturday, April 10th around 3 a.m., Bend Police responded to the 60000 block of Sally Lane in Bend for a report of a Toyota that was just stolen from a driveway. The caller saw two people in the Toyota as it drove away, out of the subdivision. The owner of the Toyota left the keys inside, with the doors unlocked. Officers arrived in the area and were not able to locate the pickup right away.

About 40 minutes after the theft, an officer was in the area of NE 27th Street at NE Highway 20 East when the stolen silver Toyota was located, with two people inside.  Officers conducted a traffic stop at Highway 20 East at NE Dalton Street. The driver, Kory Brown was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The passenger would not provide her name to officers. She was also arrested, and through investigation, she was determined to be XXXXXXXXXXXX. Officers learned she was listed as a missing person out of Linn County.

Kory Brown and XXXXXXXXXXXX were both arrested and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The Toyota was returned to the owner.

 

Bend Police would like to remind our community members to always lock your vehicle, with the windows rolled up, and never leave your keys or valuables inside your vehicle.

 

Submitted by: Lt. Juli McConkey

 

Attached Media Files: Press Release Photo,