An Oklahoma man was arrested Saturday night, April 12, after a chase and a search involving K9’s and drones, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reported.
According to Duncan, on April 12, 2025, at 7:07 p.m., Linn County Dispatch received a 911 call where someone had shot at a deer from the window of a black Mustang in the area of Honey Sign Drive near Lebanon. The same vehicle was then reported to be driving recklessly in the area, doing burnouts in the middle of the road and racing through the area.
At the time of the call, deputies were responding to an unrelated disturbance when the black Mustang passed them at 117 mph, traveling in the opposite direction towards Albany, passing vehicles in no-passing zones and driving recklessly. Deputies turned around to locate the vehicle but lost sight soon after.
During their search, dispatch received additional calls about the black Mustang, which included a hit-and-run in which the Mustang side-swiped a 2018 Mercedes and continued to leave the area. Deputies were joined by multiple law enforcement agencies in search of the Mustang. Soon after, the Mercedes owner spotted the Mustang parked in a driveway on Goldfish Farm Road near Albany. Deputies learned that three people had fled from the vehicle. Deputies began to set up perimeter, and drones and K9’s were requested to assist in the search.
Three people were located during the search. Passenger William Franklin, 19, from Oklahoma, surrendered without incident. A second passenger, Mason Guidry, 20, of Louisiana, and driver Justin Franklin, 36, of Oklahoma, and father of William Franklin, were located in a nearby field into which they had fled to in an attempt to hide, Duncan said. Guidry surrendered without further incident, while Justin Franklin refused to cooperate and comply with commands, Duncan said. Due to statements and use of firearms previously, a Lebanon Police K9 was deployed to gain compliance from Justin Franklin, who was taken into custody after being bitten by the K9.
Investigators determined that Justin Franklin had been the driver and had used an AR-15 rifle to shoot at the deer while on Honey Sign Drive. Evidence of the shooting was seized from inside the Ford Mustang. A Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle was later found hidden in blackberry bushes where the occupants were first seen running into the field, Duncan said. The field on Honey Sign Drive was later searched in the dark and the deer was not located. It is unknown if the deer was shot, injured, or killed, she said.
Justin Franklin was transported to Albany General Hospital for treatment of the dog bites and later lodged at the Linn County Jail for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and failure to perform the duties of a driver.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, Albany Police Department and Oregon State Police.