Kristy Tallman
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) announced the apprehension of Gary Louis Coomer, 51, of Sweet Home, on Thursday afternoon due to his outstanding arrest warrants.
“Mr. Coomer has been found and he is back in jail. Thank you to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office for coordinating the search for Mr. Coomer and thank you to Lebanon Police Department and Sweet Home Police Department for their help in locating Mr. Coomer and bringing him back to be sentenced for his crimes,” said Doug Marteeny, District Attorney in a statement on Facebook.
Coomer was convicted by a jury on January 12, 2024, for charges including sodomy in the first degree, rape in the first degree, and two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree.
After being convicted, Coomer was released, with his sentencing scheduled for February 15. However, when he failed to appear, warrants were issued for his arrest.
Collaborating with multiple agencies, law enforcement officials pursued Coomer, conducting surveillance and following up on leads from the public.
“Law enforcement officials from the LCSO, LPD, and SHPD have been working together to apprehend Gary Coomer since he failed to appear for his sentencing,” LCSO stated.
Eventually, Coomer was discovered hiding on a property east of Lebanon by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Despite initially ignoring commands to surrender, he peacefully surrendered after the arrival of a K-9 unit from the Lebanon Police Department.
Following his arrest, Coomer complained of medical issues and was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital for evaluation.
Once medically cleared, he will be transported to Linn County Jail, where he will be held without bail until his sentencing at Linn County Circuit Court.