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
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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.