North Douglas Herald
December 2024
Douglas & Lane County Public Safety Report
Sutherlin Woman Rescued from
Wilderness Near Reedsport
Douglas County, OR – A 43-year-old
Sutherlin woman has been rescued from
the wilderness area outside of Reedsport.
Mandy Greer was picking mushrooms in the
vicinity of Camp Creek Road east of Loon
Lake on Tuesday afternoon. She and her
significant other had only planned to be out
for a few hours.
Just before 5 pm Tuesday, October
29th, 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from
her companion advising they had split up
while picking mushrooms, and Greer hadn’t
returned to their shared vehicle as planned.
Deputies and Search and Rescue
responded and spent several hours searching
for Greer in response to this report. Search
efforts included ground, fixed wing aircraft
and drone work. A drone operator identified
potential heat signatures, but searchers
did not locate Greer. Efforts were paused
in the early morning hours but resumed
Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday, Douglas County
Search and Rescue received resources from
the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Search
and Rescue unit to assist in search efforts
which resumed at 7:00 am. At approximately
9:15 am, a deputy was able to make voice
contact with Greer who responded to the
deputy’s siren sound sweep. Searchers
learned Greer was injured and would need
assistance in extracting from the forest. When
rescuers located Greer, it was determined she
had suffered a non-life-threatening injury,
was cold and wet.
Rescuers provided first aid, food and hot
tea before assisting Greer to the roadway
where she was transferred to the care of
EMS providers. The Douglas County
Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Douglas
County Search and Rescue, Jackson County
Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Oregon
State Police Aircraft Unit, Sutherlin Police,
and Umpqua Valley Ambulance.
Stabbing Investigation
Roseburg, OR -- On November 12, 2024 at
approximately 8:30 PM, the Roseburg Police
Department, along with the Douglas County
Sheriff’s Office, responded to the 200 block
of SE Pine Street, an area referred to as “The
Point,” regarding a reported stabbing. When
officers arrived, they found 31-year-old
Jesse Otha Thomas lying on the bike path
with multiple stab wounds. Thomas was
transported to Mercy Medical Center by
Umpqua Valley Ambulance, with non-life
threatening injuries and later released.
The suspect in this case, 45-year-
old Joshua Daniel Saunders, fled the scene
but was located along the South Umpqua
riverbank with the use of a FLIR thermal
imaging device. After a multi-hour standoff,
Saunders was tased and taken into custody
without further incident. Saunders was
lodged at the Douglas County Jail for Assault
1 and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
The Roseburg Police Department
would like to thank the Douglas County
Sheriff’s Office and Umpqua Valley
Ambulance for their assistance. No further
details are being released at this time.
wounds. The officers on scene began life
saving efforts for Burchell until relieved
by paramedics. Burchell was transported
to Mercy by ambulance, but ultimately
succumbed to his injuries at approximately
0921 hours.
The Douglas County Major Crimes
team, which includes the Roseburg Police
Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s
Office, Oregon State Police, and the Douglas
County District Attorney’s Office, has been
activated and a comprehensive and ongoing
investigation is occurring. Based on the
preliminary investigation, Wall was taken
into custody for Murder II and was lodged at
Douglas County Corrections.
OSP seizes 10 lb Fentanyl
Douglas County, OR – Oregon State
police recently seized almost 10 pounds
of illegal drugs during a traffic stop. On
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at about 11 a.m.,
an Oregon State Trooper stopped a vehicle
on Interstate 5 northbound in Douglas
County for traffic violations. During the
stop, the trooper observed signs of possible
criminal activity and requested to search the
vehicle. The consent search of the vehicle
resulted in the discovery of 9.2 pounds of
suspected fentanyl powder.
The vehicle operator, Johana
Gonzalez Castillo (27) of Oakland (CA),
and passenger, Bayron Enamorado
Manueles (26) also of Oakland (CA),
were arrested for possession and delivery
of fentanyl and lodged at the Douglas
County Jail. The case is currently under
investigation and no additional information
is available for release at this time.
Can you Identify
this Person of Interest?
Eugene, OR — The Eugene Police
Department (EPD) is looking for help in
identifying a person of interest in an animal
abuse case that happened on November 19,
2024. According to EPD, the abuse case
occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. near E.
20th Avenue and Amazon Parkway.
This is a developing story, and the
details of the abuse case have not been
Lane County, OR — Just before midnight
on November 24th, a Lane County Sheriff’s
deputy observed a gray 2007 Dodge pickup
driving south on I-5 from Goshen at a high
rate of speed. A deputy assigned to Creswell
attempted a traffic stop as the vehicle passed
through the area at over 90 miles per hour,
and a pursuit ensued. The deputy deployed
his patrol car’s MobileSpike system, which
began a controlled deflation of a tire on the
pickup to slow its speed.
The driver, Jack Daniel Bates, 49, of
Oregon City, pulled over after exiting the
freeway onto Saginaw Road. The deputies
observed signs of impairment. After
investigating, Bates was arrested and lodged
at the Lane County Jail for DUI, Driving
While Suspended - Felony, and Attempt to
Elude by Vehicle. - LCSO Case #24-6261
Deputies Arrest Multiple
DUIs over 1 Day
Lane County, OR — On November 20th,
Lane County Sheriff’s deputies handled
three DUIs throughout the day. Each of these
calls prevented the investigating deputies
from handling other pending calls for service
for several hours, and each call could have
ended far more tragically.
About an hour after midnight, deputies
responded to the 76200 block of London Rd.,
Cottage Grove. A driver in an SUV went into
the ditch and was unable to free his vehicle.
Deputies observed signs of impairment, and
the driver was arrested for DUI.
At the same time, a deputy conducted
a traffic stop after observing a vehicle driving
poorly on I-5 at 30th Ave. The deputy
initiated a traffic stop, and observed signs
the driver was impaired. After investigating,
the driver was arrested and a family member
was called to collect a juvenile passenger
from the vehicle.
Later that day, at about 5 p.m., a deputy
responded to a crash on N. Coburg Rd. near
Paiute Ln. after a vehicle left the roadway
and damaged a public utility box. The deputy
observed signs of impairment, however the
driver refused to cooperate and then resisted
arrest. After transport to the Lane County
Jail, a search warrant blood draw was applied
for and granted. The driver was lodged at the
jail for DUI, Resisting Arrest, and Felon in
Possession of a Restricted Weapon.
As we head into the holiday season, please
consider others on the road:
- Plan your safe ride home ahead of time
- If someone you know has been drinking
or using drugs, don’t let them get behind the
wheel
- If you drink or use drugs, do not drive for
any reason
- If you’re hosting a party where alcohol
will be served, make sure all guests leave
with a sober driver
- And please, always wear your seatbelt!
Hunter and Dog Rescued
Shooting Investigation
Roseburg, OR -- On November 9th at 0315
hours, the Roseburg Police Department
responded to multiple reports of gunfire
in the 1200 block Hamilton Street, in
Roseburg. The responding officers located
and identified the shooter as 25 year old
Austin Adrian Wall. The responding officers
also located Ryan Dale Burchell ( 50 years
of age), who sustained several gunshot
MobileSpike Deployed
to End Pursuit
shared yet. We will update as we receive
more information.
Lane County, OR -- On November 11th at
about 4 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s Search
& Rescue responded to the area above
Hills Creek Dam for an overdue hunter
with medical issues. After several hours of
searching, SAR personnel located the hunter
and provided initial medical care. He was
hypothermic and transported by ambulance
to an area hospital.
The hunter’s dog, an older Rhodesian
Ridgeback named Sedona, was not initially
located but was later found by campers in
Page 3
the area. Hunter and dog were reunited the
next morning.
Arrests after Shot Fired
Creswell, OR — On November 14th at
about 4:30 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s
deputies responded to the 200 block of S.
10th St., Creswell, for a report of a physical
dispute with a shot fired. No one was injured,
however during the investigation deputies
found evidence a firearm had been used.
Deputies arrested Douglas Glenn
Vertrees, 63, of Creswell, for Unlawful Use
of a Weapon and Disorderly Conduct in the
2nd Degree. Another person involved in
the dispute, Rebecca Leanne Huse, 38, was
arrested on a warrants for:
- Failure to Appear – Possession of
Methamphetamine, out of Lane County
Circuit Court
- Failure to Appear – Criminal Trespass in
the 2nd Degree and Giving false Information
to a Police Officer, out of Eugene Municipal
Court
Both were lodged at the Lane County
Jail. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office
would like to thank Oregon State Police for
their assistance with this call. LCSO Case
#24-6091
Theft Suspect Arrested
Veneta, OR — On November 13th at
about 7 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies
assigned to the City of Veneta received
information a stolen camper trailer was in
the area of the 87700 block of Territorial
Highway, Veneta. When deputies arrived,
they discovered the trailer was occupied
by Travos James Bechtol, 30, and Melissa
Renee Pederson, 33, both of Veneta.
Deputies arrested both suspects,
and discovered additional stolen property
inside the trailer. Both were lodged at the
Lane County Jail for Possession of a Stolen
Vehicle. Pederson was in possession of
drugs, and was charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine. The investigation into
the stolen property is ongoing. LCSO Case
#24-6070
Stalker Arrested after
Home Burglary
Eugene, OR — On November 10th at
about 8 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies
responded to a panic alarm in the 100 block
of Oakleigh Lane, Eugene. A neighbor also
called in to report a stalker, identified as
David Ivan Piccioni, 55, had broken into
the victim’s house. The victim confirmed
Piccioni had broken in while they were
sleeping.
Deputies converged on the area as
Piccioni ran. They quickly arrested him
nearby on River Road, and lodged him at the
Lane County Jail on the following charges:
- Violating Court’s Stalking Protective
Order
- Stalking
- Burglary in the 1st Degree
- Menacing
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office
would like to thank the watchful neighbors
who assisted the victim and deputies in this
case. LCSO Case #24-6018
Elude Suspect Arrested
on Territorial Rd
Veneta, OR -- On Friday, November 8th,
a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy attempted
to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle
driving through Veneta at high speed just
after midnight. The driver of the vehicle
attempted to elude the deputy. Deputies were
Continued on Page 10