A Sweet Home man was arrested for criminally negligent homicide early Tuesday morning, Feb. 3, after an altercation near Foster School.
According to a department statement issued Tuesday, police received a 9-1-1 call at about 1:06 a.m. Tuesday regarding a physical disturbance near the Foster Elementary School building, 5527 Poplar St. According to the Sweet Home police log, the suspect’s girlfriend called police and reported that her boyfriend had been assaulted and that the suspect was being restrained.
As officers were responding, a caller stated that the male being restrained on the ground had gone unconscious and was not breathing.
Officers arrived to find 47-year-old Joe Parkins of Sweet Home not breathing and without a pulse.
Officers performed CPR on Parkins until Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District medics arrived. Emergency personnel continued life-saving efforts but were unable to revive Parkins.
Additional staff responded to the scene, including the Sweet Home Police Department detective.
An investigation indicated that Parkins had been in a physical altercation with 49-year-old David Harry Peter Johnson of Sweet Home.
Johnson was taken into custody for criminally negligent homicide and lodged at the Linn County Jail. The investigation is continuing, and additional charges may be added. His vehicle was towed as a hazard.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Sean Potter at (541) 367-5181 or [email protected].