Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:00 pm
People arrested are innocent unless proven otherwise in court. Initial charges often change as a case progresses.
ALBANY POLICE
Arrest - Acting on a tip, police arrested Henry Wayne Torrance, 35, of Albany at AMF Lanes Wednesday afternoon on a first-degree robbery warrant. Police wanted Torrance for a shoplifting incident Dec. 11 at Coastal Farm and Ranch. Officers had passed out flyers bearing his description. Torrance, a known "runner," ran, but police were able to catch up with him just outside the business and take him into custody. He was lodged at the Linn County Jail on $50,000 bail.
Van stolen - Police took a report Wednesday of a 1997 white Dodge Caravan, license plate WNK 922 stolen from the 600 block of 34th Avenue S.E. The owner had started the van to warm it up then left it for five minutes. When she returned it was gone.
LEBANON FIRE
House fire update - The cause of a Wednesday morning fire that heavily damaged a vacant house at 1855 Ninth St. S. in Lebanon is still undetermined. Lebanon Fire Marshal Mark Wilson said neighbors saw flames coming from the two-story home, built in 1946, and called 911 at 2:34 a.m. Firefighters had the blaze under control by about 4.
Wilson said firefighters initially thought the home was for sale, but property owner Kenneth Coe of Portland told them no, the for-sale sign had been there when he bought the home, for development purposes.
Power had been connected to the home, although no one was living there, Wilson said.
Flames broke out in the southeast corner of the building.
Tax rolls list the home's value at $70,000, and the fire caused at least $50,000 in damage, Wilson said. "It's pretty well gutted."
The building was not insured, he added.
Fire was contained to the structure and no one was injured. Eighteen firefighters in six trucks responded.
LEBANON POLICE
Attempted elude - Police arrested a Lebanon man Wednesday morning in connection with a late-night car chase Tuesday. Detective Sgt. Kevin Martinez gave this account:
An officer headed north on Hiatt Street about 10:30 p.m. attempted to pull over a red Nissan Pathfinder that did not have working taillights. The Pathfinder accelerated, turning west onto Elmore and south onto Franklin, where it slid sideways and stopped.
A male passenger got out with his hands up, but as officers approached, the vehicle sped away again. Police gave chase through several more city streets, including Harden and Park and then east down Milton, where the vehicle left the road into a wooded area and slid into a ditch. The driver got out and ran.
Martinez said officers attempted to track the driver with a police dog but did not find him. Subsequent investigation led to a residence on Fuller Lane Wednesday morning.
Brian Henry Wilkins, 23, was arrested and charged with attempt to elude on foot, attempt to elude in a vehicle and reckless driving. He was lodged in the Linn County Jail.
LINN COUNTY SHERIFF
Trespass with gun - A deputy noticed a pickup parked at the Western Star Grange in the 33100 block of Oakville Road at 1:30 a.m. Thursday and thought it suspicious considering the hour. He discovered two men walking around, later identified as Jakeb Schoorl, 21, of Albany and Nickolas Patrick Roush, 21, of Corvallis. According to the deputy, Schoorl had a .357 revolver on him. Asked why, he reportedly said he was the victim of a recent burglary and was paranoid. Further questioned, he admitted he thought the suspect may be at or near the grange and he was prepared to fist fight him, and only had the gun for protection.
Schoorl was arrested for trespassing with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. Roush was arrested for trespassing with a firearm and second-degree criminal trespass. Both were cooperative and taken to the Linn County Jail.
Smash and grab - Thieves smashed the glass of a business in the 600 block of N.W. Santiam Boulevard in Mill City late Wednesday night and made off with cigarettes.
SWEET HOME POLICE
Sliding on ice - Police received a call Wednesday morning that kids at Sankey Park had emptied garbage cans and were sliding them on ice. Police spoke with the kids and told them to leave the park.
Reported fight - An officer responded around 8 p.m. Wednesday to the 2200 block of Long Street for a report of a fight. Two males, ages 21 and 17, were arrested for disorderly conduct. The 17-year-old was also referred to the juvenile department for being a minor in possession of alcohol.
Asking for hugs - At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, police received a call from a business in the 4800 block of Main Street. The caller said a man was asking customers for money, hugs and personal information. Police responded and told the man to leave.