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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018
Florence man under investigation for MVA near dock
Alcohol is suspected in the accident but formal charges have not been made while Oregon State Police investigate
Following the approval of a
search warrant by a Lane
County judge on March 22,
Florence resident Dennis Lee
Witten, 44, is under investiga-
tion for allegedly causing a
crash while intoxicated on
March 10. The accident result-
ed in injury to himself and his
wife, 36-year-old Ashlie
Cathryn Laughlin.
According to an affidavit
submitted last week in Lane
Circuit Court, the crash hap-
pened at 8:40 p.m., when the
couple’s vehicle, a blue
Nissan Pathfinder, rolled into
the Siuslaw River near the
crab dock off South Jetty
Road.
The incident allegedly
occurred when, according to a
statement made in the affi-
davit by Laughlin, the two
attempted to go four-wheeling
after sharing a half gallon of
Fireball whiskey with three
other crabbers on the dock.
Laughlin told an Oregon
State Police trooper that, prior
to arriving at the dock, the two
had eaten dinner in Florence
around 5 p.m., when Witten
had “at least one beer.”
Laughlin said she was half-
asleep when the crash
occurred, and only remem-
bered being bounced around
in the car before hearing
Witten yelling, “Get up, get
out,” stated the affidavit.
An ambulance arrived a
short time later and treated
Laughlin for an ankle injury,
along with Witten, who sus-
tained broken teeth and a deep
gash on his lower lip that
required stitches.
Witten admitted to consum-
ing two beers at dinner a few
hours earlier, but denied
drinking any whiskey on the
dock despite a description in
the affidavit by a trooper
remarking
that
Witten
“smelled strongly of alcohol.”
The two were transported to
Peace Harbor Hospital for
treatment, where a blood sam-
ple was drawn by staff. Witten
refused to provide a sample to
troopers, prompting OSP to
apply for the search warrant in
order to obtain the sample
from the hospital.
According to the affidavit,
Witten agreed to a handful of
sobriety tests while laying in a
hospital bed in a neck
restraint. He was unable to
recite the alphabet from M to
Z despite two attempts. He
was also unable to count back-
ward from 99 to 86, although
he was able to touch his thumb
to each of his fingers while
counting, according to the
trooper.
When asked to provide a
blood sample, Witten report-
edly stated, “I don’t think I’m
comfortable with that.”
Though the investigation by
OSP is continuing, according
to court records Witten has not
been formally charged as of
March 27.
POLICE LOG
Florence Police
Mar. 22
Menacing was reported at
the Siuslaw Bridge on
Highway 101.
Mar. 23
Driving while suspended
was reported on Highway
101.
Mar. 24
Criminal mischief was
reported on Park Village
Drive.
Fire was reported on Sutton
Lake Road.
Accident, with injury, was
reported at Driftwood II in
the Oregon Dunes National
Park.
Animal abuse was reported
in the 1300 block of Bay
Street.
Fire was reported on
Highway 101 at milepost 171.
Theft was reported in the
1300 block of Bay Street.
Arrest, with warrant, was
reported in the 1400 block of
Highway 101.
Mar. 25
Harassment was reported
in the 1700 bock of 12th
Street.
Hit-and-run accident was
reported in the 5000 block of
Highway 126.
Mar. 26
Harassment was reported
in the 1600 block of Highway
101.
Accident, with unknown
injury, was reported at the
Rhododendron Drive Coast
Guard Station.
Trespass was reported in
the 2400 block of Highway
101.
Trespass was reported in
the 90000 block of Upper
North Fork Road.
Commissioner
candidates to
attend forum
April 6
With the elected terms of
three of five Lane County
Commissioners due to expire
soon, Friday, April 6, marks a
singular opportunity to join
the City Club of Florence as
Western Lane Commissioner
Jay Bozievich and candidate
Nora Kent present their posi-
tions on a variety of county
issues.
The free noon forum, host-
ed at the Class Act Theatre,
509 Kingwood St. will offer a
regional opportunity for vot-
ers to ask tough questions on
issues of economic, educa-
tional, social and environ-
mental concern facing the
county during the next four
years. Questions can be sub-
mitted in writing when the
doors open at 11:30 a.m. or
they may be asked during the
meeting.
Kent is a long-time resi-
dent of Lane County, having
raised her family in the River
Road/Santa Clara area before
moving to the Florence area
14 years ago, where she con-
tinues to work as an instruc-
tor for Lane Community
College. She has been an
active advocate for building
affordable housing, increas-
ing rural patrols, increasing
the number of healthcare
providers and bringing fami-
ly-wage jobs to Lane County
though the citizen initiative
process.
Bozievich is running for
his third term as West Lane
Commissioner.
He advocates for increas-
ing the supply and diversity
of housing, especially for the
work force in Lane County.
He would like to improve the
capacity of the public safety
system
and
implement
restorative justice programs.
For more information,
contact Ruth at socialpollin
ator@gmail.com.
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Celebrate your Doctor
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This Doctors Day, help us recognize your provider for their dedication
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Cell or Direct # 541-999-0196
Free and Associates
Auction/Realty
PO Box 57
Florence, OR 97439
Free and Associates
Auction/Realty
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