- Information for the Public Safety report and Courts in The New Era is sourced from local law enforcement and fire agencies. Incident details, which may not always be available from agencies in time for publication in our weekly paper edition, are often updated online at sweethomenews.com as information becomes available. Addresses provided generally denote the location of the incident or arrest, occasionally indicating the origin of the call.
- It is crucial to emphasize that our reporting of an individual’s arrest or citation for a crime does not imply guilt. Determination of guilt can only be established through legal proceedings in court. We commit significant effort to following through as cases move through the judicial process.
- Following is a list of abbreviations that may appear in our log reports: LCSO (Linn County Sheriff’s Office); SHPD (Sweet Home Police Department); OSP (Oregon State Police); LCCC (Linn County Circuit Court); LCJC (Linn County Justice Court); SHMC (Sweet Home Municipal Court); LMC (Lebanon Municipal Court); AMC (Albany Municipal Court); LCS (Linn County Supervisory), OSPB (Oregon State Parole Board), FTA (failure to appear); FTC (failure to comply). A roman numeral listed after a charge means that the charge is that numbered-degree: theft I (first-degree theft).
May 22
10:38 a.m. – Multiple callers reported male following female in 2400 block Main St. as she yelled at him to leave her alone. Officer responded, contacted both parties, trespassed male from female’s residence and advised him to stop contacting her.
11:11 a.m. – Caller reported female spit in his eye multiple times. Officer responded. 2200 block Nandina St. Report taken.
11:41 a.m. – Deputy responded to report of disturbance in 37800 block Hwy. 228 involving male throwing knife at trees. Caller requested welfare check on male. Deputy determined male was OK.
11:54 a.m. – Caller reported juvenile appeared to be vandalizing Weddle Bridge, 877 14th Ave. Officer responded. Juvenile was counseled.
1:40 pm. – Scott David Citro, 49, arrested on LCCC warrant for FTA in burglary case, SHMC warrant for FTA in reckless driving case. 600 block Main St. Cited and released.
1:42 p.m. – Caller reported group of juveniles waiting outside Taco Bell restaurant to jump her. Officer responded, “mob” dispersed after officer’s arrival, though one member returned to make threats, according to police log. Caller advised of protection order options.
2:35 p.m. – Caller from City Hall reported finding bicycle trailer left at 3225 Main St. Officer placed item in property at SHPD.
3:34 p.m. – Brandon Horton, 37, of Halsey, cited for failing to register vehicle, 300 block N. Main St., Brownsville.
4:50 p.m. – Thomas Josephe Lee Burke, 46, arrested by Cottage Grove police on SHMC warrant for FTA in telephonic harassment case. Cited to appear June 11.
5:17 p.m. – Caller reported vehicle unable to maintain lane as it approached Sweet Home from west. Officer contacted driver, no indication of intoxication. Driver submitted for re-evaluation after warnings for failing to signal, impeding traffic.
7:32 p.m. – Daniel Bernacel, 66, arrested on AMC warrant for FTA in disorderly conduct case after multiple callers reported male screaming and trying to fight in 1000 block 12th Ave. Officer responded and located Bernacel, who had calmed down “significantly,” according to police. He was trespassed from location.
8:23 p.m. – Crash reported in 40300 block Hwy. 228. According to LCSO, vehicle had mechanical failure, slowly rolled into thin wire fence at Holley Church. Information exchanged between parties.
9:52 p.m. – Caller reported juveniles starting fire on Weddle Bridge. Officer responded, contacted group of people, including two adults, who were starting a charcoal barbecue on the bridge. They were counseled.
9:56 p.m. – Raymond Binford, 35, of Sweet Home, arrested for DUII, reckless driving, driving while suspended, on a Lane County Circuit Court warrant for FTA, and on two LCJC warrants for FTA and driving while suspended. 3rd Ave./Juniper St. Also cited for failure to drive within lane, driving uninsured, driving without ignition interlock device, and failure to register vehicle. According to LCSO, deputy spotted Binford’s vehicle veer into oncoming lane of traffic and initiated traffic stop. Report taken.
11:59 p.m. – Caller reported possible intoxicated driver swerving on road, eastbound on Main St. Officer conducted traffic stop; male showed no signs of impairment but was having medical issues. Refused transport. Stated he would park in nearby lot and have wife pick him up.
May 21
7:48 a.m. – Austin Deeds, 52, of Foster, arrested for domestic assault II, failure to register as sex offender, 48000 block Hwy. 20. Lodged at Linn County Jail.
11:26 a.m. – Armed disturbance reported in 43600 block Wiley Creek Dr. No criminal charges resulted. Two more calls made to LCSO over course of next five hours, complaining of trespassers and a car that caller reported had been parked on private property for three years. According to LCSO, caller’s adult son allegedly had damaged some belongings in home, then took off running down road for unknown reason. Deputies were not able to locate him and caller did not want to pursue charges on damage.
4:16 p.m. – Caller reported fraud in 27700 block Pine View Rd. Caller said charges appeared on credit card after wallet was lost at mall. According to LCSO, victim lost wallet at Salem Mall and forgot to cancel credit cards. They later found unauthorized charges on the cards in the Salem area. Investigation ongoing. Report taken.
6:51 p.m. – Crash reported in area of Elm St./Kirk Ave., Brownsville. Vehicle vs. pedestrian. According to LCSO, this was an altercation that originally occurred in Brownsville, where Jackie Harden, 31, of Crabtree, driving a Mitsubishi 3GT, allegedly intentionally drove at a victim, attempting to hit them. Harden then fled to Crabtree where he was later taken into custody for assault I. Investigation ongoing. Report taken.
May 20
12:04 a.m. – Sebastian Benson, 52, cited for driving uninsured, 1300 block 42nd Ave.
12:10 a.m. – Dustin Kyle Coughran, 35, arrested on Salem Municipal Court warrant for FTA in failure to carry and present license case, Albany warrant for contempt of court. 4100 block Osage St. Cited and released.
6:58 a.m. – Michael Evan Matthews, 40, arrested by Lebanon police on SHMC warrant for FTA in trespassing case. Cited to appear June 11.
7:46 a.m. – Caller reported juvenile poured paint on Weddle Bridge, 877 14th Ave. Officer responded, report taken for criminal mischief II.
8:04 a.m. – LCSO responded to report of drug overdose, 1000 block Red Baron Lane. Victim alive at time of report. Report taken.
9:31 a.m. – Caller from Sweet Home Junior High reported students were smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol on school bus. Officer responded, information noted.
1:32 p.m. – Denise Rochelle Burrow, 58, arrested on SHMC warrant for FTA in theft case. 600 block Holley Rd. Cited and released.
2:59 pm. – Caller reported fraud in 27700 block Riggs Hill Rd. According to LCSO, victim had around a $30, 000 loan taken out against their life insurance policy. Investigation under way. Report taken.
3:02 p.m. – Caller from Sweet Home Library reported that male who had been trespassed from location was in the bathroom at library. Officer responded. Matter referred to city attorney. 1101 13th Ave.
5:38 p.m. – Bryanna Sue Harley, 33, arrested on SHMC warrant for FTA in two theft cases. Cited to appear June 11.
6:21 p.m. – Timothy Dean James Morgan, 23, arrested on LCC warrant for probation violation in sex abuse case, 2000 block Main St. Lodged at Linn County Jail.
6:42 p.m. – Dakota Lee Phillips-Newport, 21, arrested on LCCC warrant for probation violation in sex abuse case, 3200 block Main St. Cited and released.
22:02 p.m. – Multiple callers reported that male in parking lot pointed gun at several people in 1200 block 12th Ave. Officer responded and some parties were gone on his arrival, and others remaining at location did not want to pursue charges.
May 19
2:04 a.m. – Nicholas Nathan Nivison, 32, arrested by LCSO on SHMC warrant for FTA in trespass case. Cited to appear June 11.
4:02 a.m. – Mica Deann West, 34, arrested by Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on SHMC warrant for FTA in DUII case. Cited to appear June 11.
7:12 a.m. – Deputy warned individual about illegal camping in 37800 block Hwy. 228, Brownsville.
8:28 a.m. – Deputies warned occupant of parked vehicle about camping on county right-of-way, Upper Calapooia Dr./Rice Rd.
10:02 a.m. – Brandon Ryan Freeman, 31, arrested at Linn County Jail for restraining order violation after caller reported male had called her from Linn County Jail. Freeman was already lodged at the jail.
11:48 a.m. – Caller reported that 40-year-old male came to high school to register as student, then left for Boys & Girls Club, 1641 Long St. High school staffers asked that he be trespassed, but by time officer arrived he was no longer on the property.
1:35 p.m. – Christopher Michael Lindner, 52, arrested on AMC warrant for FTC in contempt of court case. 1800 block Main St. Cited and released.
3:40 p.m. – Sarah Littell, 48, of Sweet Home, arrested for attempted assault I and resisting arrest following investigation into domestic disturbance, 42700 block North River Dr. Report taken.
5:58 p.m. – Caller reported theft of $98.69 worth of diesel from business in 33100 block Hwy. 228, Halsey. Report taken.
7:51 p.m. – Officer responded to report of fire at Sweet Home Veterans Club, 580 Main St.
7:51 p.m. – Leah Evan Alicata, 41, arrested on SHMC warrant for theft III, 500 block Main St. Cited and released.
8:41 p.m. – Brian Scott Holden arrested on SHMC warrant for FTC in theft case, LMC warrant for FTA in driving while suspended case 2000 block Main St. Cited and released.