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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2024)
June 19, 2024 Page 3 INSIDE L ocaL N ews Man Pleads Not Guilty to Killing 3 Women Accusations of dumping bodies in Oregon and Washington Arts & page 7 ENTERTAINMENT s ports c Lassified /B ids page 5 pages 10 Established 1970 USPS 959 680 1727 NE 13th Ave. Suite 201 Portland, OR 97212 The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer--Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association Publisher: Mark Washington, Sr. Editor: Shawntell Washington Office Mngr/Clasfds : Lucinda Baldwin Admin Coord : Quayuana Washington Creative Director: Kenya Anderson Web Editor: Zoe Holman-Kragero CALL 503-288-0033 • FAX 503-288-0015• news@portlandobserver.com ads@portlandobserver.com• subscription@portlandobserver.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer, PO Box 3137, Portland, OR 97208 AP-A man accused of killing three women last year in the Port- land, Oregon, area and dumping their bodies has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Jesse Lee Calhoun’s attor- ney entered the pleas Thursday to three counts of second-de- gree murder and three counts of abuse of a corpse in the deaths of Charity Lynn Perry, 24; Bridget Leanne Webster, 31; and Joan- na Speaks, 32, news outlets re- ported. He did not speak during the arraignment in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Perry and Webster were found in Oregon, while Speaks was found in an abandoned barn in southwestern Washington. Their bodies were found over several months starting in February 2023 — in wooded areas, in a culvert and under a bridge — in a roughly 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius, spark- ing concern that a serial killer might be targeting young wom- en in the region. Speaks’ body was found in southwest Wash- ington, in April 2023, but inves- Jesse lee Calhoun is seen in Multnomah County Court. (Dave Killen/ The Oregonian via AP, Pool) tigators have said they believe had been transferred to Portland. she was killed in the Portland The indictment came weeks area. Police and prosecutors ha- before Calhoun was due to be re- ven’t said what evidence they leased from state prison, where have linking Calhoun to the he was returned last year to fin- deaths. The deaths of two oth- ish serving a four-year term for er women during that time pe- assaulting a police officer, trying riod are still being investigated, to strangle a police dog, burglary the Multnomah County District and other charges. Attorney’s Office has said. The He was initially released in families of the three women 2021, a year early, because he have told reporters they strug- was among a group of people in gled with addiction or mental custody who helped fight dev- health issues. astating wildfires in 2020. Gov. Calhoun, 39, was arrested in Tina Kotek revoked the commu- June 2023 on unrelated parole tation, which was issued by her warrants and incarcerated at the predecessor, Kate Brown, last Snake River Correctional Cen- year when police began investi- ter in eastern Oregon. He was gating him in the deaths. indicted in May in the women’s Even if Brown hadn’t com- deaths. The Multnomah County muted Calhoun’s sentence, he jail on Wednesday listed Cal- would have been released before houn on its roster, indicating he the deaths occurred. Oaks Park Ride Malfunctions Crews Rescue Trapped Riders On Friday, June 14, at approx- imately 3:00 p.m., callers to 911 reported that an amusement park ride, the AtmosFEAR at Oaks Amusement Park, had stalled. Callers stated the ride was stuck with an estimated 30 riders belt- ed in and upside down. Within moments, Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) 911 call takers and dispatchers tri- aged the call and dispatched a high angle rope rescue response to the scene. This put in motion the multi-unit response with the closest fire Engine and fire Truck, along with the high angle special- ty rescue team consisting of one fire Engine, one fire Truck, two Squads, as well as a Battalion Chief to oversee the command of the incident as well as the opera- tions once on scene. Dispatch also initiated the response of a medic unit from American Medical Re- sponse (AMR). Triage Area (Photo Courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue) While enroute to the location, dispatchers updated the respond- ing units and notified them that everyone on the ride was report- ed to be safely restrained by the ride’s safety equipment and that all riders were awake and breath- ing. Crews arrived on scene with- in about five minutes after dis- patch. They then made their way to the ride, established command, and began to work with Park fa- cility staff to troubleshoot the best course of action. Simultaneously, out of an abundance of caution, a Medical Branch with a patient triage was established so that once the riders were returned to the ground, their medical condi- tion could be evaluated. To aug- ment the initial AMR medic unit that was dispatched, Command requested an AMR Supervisor and additional AMR medic units should there be multiple individ- uals needing transport. Coincidently, approximate- ly one year ago, Portland Fire & Rescue’s high angle rope rescue team was invited to participate in an evacuation exercise/drill for this very ride by Oaks Amusement Park. This training opportunity provided a strong working rela- tionship and background for all involved as well as established a good pre-plan. As a result, PF&R and Park staff were able to manu- ally override the system and safely return the ride and all riders to the ground. The ride was reported to have returned to the ground about nine minutes after this manual process began. Prior to the riders being re- leased, a medical evaluation was completed by PR&F and AMR medics to ensure there was no medical need and all vital signs were stable. The task of reuniting the riders with their parents once it was determined safe to do so was the next important task. PF&R worked with Park staff to reunite all riders with a loved ones who had made their way to the Park. Out of an abundance of caution, it has been reported that one rider was transported to a hospital for observation after this incident. No further information will be pro- vided about the patients age, gen- der, or transport location.
