Pulled from riverbank, he wasn't who he said he was

By Carrie Petersen

Albany Democrat-Herald

What began as a riverbank rescue in Albany has evolved into a possible case of stolen identity.

In July, Albany police and firefighters pulled two intoxicated men up from an embankment along the Willamette River. Police then cited the men - one of them believed to be Donnie Lee Owens, 52 - for having alcohol in the park.

This week, Owens came from his home in Lyons to the Albany police station to show his face and say it wasn't he who fell down the riverbank that day.

Police agreed. Tattoos and other physical differences proved Owens' case.

Police said it appears that this isn't a case of two Donnie Owenses but rather a case of stolen identity.

Whoever it was at the river that day in July showed an Oregon identification card with Owens' name.

He also knew Owens' Social Security number.

In August, someone appeared in municipal court using Owens' identification to plead guilty to the alcohol in the park charge. Police are following up on that court appearance.

Owens' mother, Dorothy Owens, told the Democrat-Herald that her son doesn't know who might be using his identification.

In an effort to find out who is posing as Donnie Owens, police checked with the Linn County Jail, Linn County Parole and Probation and people along the river, but no one seems to know the man.

Police also tried to find the second man who was rescued in July to talk to him again. So far no luck.