Sheriff's Office News 
  
 
Sheriff Garrett Endorses Moratorium, Asks for Your Support

 

 

Dear Citizens, 

 

 

Retirees, parents, schools, churches, and businesses in or near unincorporated Washington County, I need your help on Tuesday evening. It's important to your community.

 

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (MMD) are coming (that is not the issue), but the 2013 law that passed does not have enough structure to make them successful and safe. The MMD law allows cities and counties to temporarily delay operation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. The extra time would enable local leaders to collaborate with the community to find an approach that most effectively addresses local concerns.

 

Please give me 3 minutes today (reading), and 10 minutes next week on Tuesday evening. If we do not convince the Board to delay, we face today's version of the law that provides:

 

  1. Only 6 employees run the whole program for the state
  2. Dispensers are unlicensed and unregulated, unlike pharmacies and places that serve alcohol
  3. Background checks on only the dispensary operator, but not all employees
  4. Products created through potentially flammable or explosive extraction techniques are unregulated (think marijuana extraction explosions in Forest Grove)
  5. Locations must be 1,000 feet from schools (3 football fields), but they can be next to playgrounds, transit centers, libraries, parks, etc.
  6. Obstacles to effective regulation of marketing, producing, and processing marijuana for sale

Unincorporated communities border cities in our county, and most are pursuing moratoriums like this one. Without this county ordinance, city efforts could be undermined as MMD rules would be lax in nearby unincorporated areas.

 

More Resources
Current Oregon MMD Law
Planning Commission Staff Report with Sheriff's Endorsement
Proposed County Ordinance 781

Bottom line, I am asking you to support Washington County Ordinance 781, the moratorium, by coming to the Board meeting on Tuesday evening, April 22, at 6:30 pm. You can offer testimony or simply provide your thoughts in writing to your commissioners. They and I will respect your time and input. This will affect all Washington County residents.

 

Here are more resources to help you write that letter or collect your thoughts. I am also willing to answer questions you may have about the process or dispensaries.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

  

Sheriff Pat Garrett     

 

If you still think you cannot make time, please consider how few will make this decision for you.  This ordinance was discussed during a Land Use Planning Commission meeting this week.  The meeting was very poorly attended, perhaps because few would expect MMD to be a land use issue at the county level.  Aside from county staff, only four people offered testimony - an MMD business owner and three others.  I hope you will join me on Tuesday evening. 

Tax Reporting Fraud

Take Steps to Protect Yourself Now

 

Tax forms overlayed with magnifying glassYour Sheriff's Office has received literally hundreds of reports of fraud by people who have tried to file tax returns this season. They are being told by the IRS that a tax return has already been filed for their Social Security Number. The IRS and FBI are investigating these cases, and they have been able to identify a few potentially helpful patterns. For instance, a good number of victims seem to be tied to the Catholic Church Archdiocese of Portland or Seattle, but others do not appear to be tied to the church. 

  

If you have not yet filed your return, Sheriff's detectives encourage you to call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490, extension 245, and ask if you are a victim. If you file taxes jointly with another person, both parties should make the call. 

 

If you or a member of your family are victims of tax fraud, take these steps:

 

  • Contact a credit bureau:  Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union (Equifax will place a 90-day fraud alert on your credit report and will notify other credit bureaus.)
  • File IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit
  • You will likely need to file a paper tax return, and you should send a copy of your IRS Form 14039 with your state return
  • Submit a report to the Federal Trade Commission
  • File a report with your local police department, in Washington County call (503) 629-0111
  • Call a Supervisory Special Agent in the Criminal Investigation Unit of the IRS at (206) 464-4920

Even if you are not a confirmed victim of tax fraud or if you have not filed a return yet, you are strongly encouraged to file IRS Form 14039. This will essentially put your SSN on a watch list with the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue.

 

While the IRS takes the investigative lead on this type of crime, the FBI and our detectives are supporting them by working to identify local trends that may reveal where breaches are occurring.

 

Related News

4/10/14 -  Portland Diocese Embroiled in ID Theft Breach

 
 
Exchanging Info or Call Police?

 

Driving along, minding your own business, then BAM!  Another car collides with yours. Do you need to call police or just exchange information? 

  • People on their cell; fender-bender in background DO call police if the crash involves injuries, crimes, multiple cars, or happens in a dangerous area such as on a freeway, or if vehicles are blocking traffic. Also call if the other driver has no insurance or if you need our help to exchange information with the driver.
  • You DO NOT need to call for non-injury collisions if you can safely exchange information with the other driver. In these situations, police do not determine which driver was at fault for the crash; that will be decided by the insurance companies. 

No one plans to crash, but being prepared can help reduce anxiety and get you back on the road quicker. Print our Accident Information Exchange Form for your glovebox. You can use it to help you and another driver exchange the needed information. 

 
Robot Team logoSheriff's Robot Team Makes Strides

 

Everything about the Sheriff's robot team is cutting edge.  More formally named the Remotely Operated Vehicle Team, this group responds from a command post to deploy robotic technologies to assist law enforcement. Even the composition of our team is innovative - melding jail deputies, patrol deputies, and civilian employees.

 

Even in a forward-thinking agency, implementing technology is a journey. But when we hit a brick wall, we respond just like a robot -- we back up a little, adjust direction, and move forward.

 

Using Homeland Security grant funds, our Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT) - think SWAT - purchased a Mini Andros II by Remotec in 2006. It was a "generation one" - bulky, cumbersome, and tethered. The control box was big and used toggle switches and twist knobs to operate. It was not user friendly nor durable. TNT used it a couple times, and each time something managed to break. The robot's early life was uneventful, so we backed up and changed direction.

 

Mini Andros robotRather than trying to get TNT experts to learn robotics, we solicited agency-wide for people interested in applying for police robotics as a collateral duty (in addition to their full-time assignment). The hiring lieutenant noted that every person selected was a video gamer. It makes sense because gamers understand that robots operate in a 3D world on a flat video screen.

 

In 2008, the new team of six was trained to use and, more importantly, fix the robot. The new vision was for the team to be called out with TNT on major incidents. On our first call, we used the robot to approach a house and get a view of the scene for the command post via our remote monitor. When the bad guy came  out, he surrendered to the robot!

 

remote controlled prototype built by ROVTIn 2010, the Sheriff's team wanted a small, quick, and agile camera on wheels, but there weren't many on the market. So we built one, using a remote controlled (RC) rock crawler truck, off-the-shelf wireless router, and a couple of IP cameras. Our prototype proved that a small, quick, wireless robot would be an asset, so we were pretty excited when we found grant funding to buy the Avatar I by Robotex. It was small, wireless, rugged, water resistant, and had two cameras including a 360 degree pan tilt zoom, all controlled by a small handheld RC. This model could be used out on patrol and for TNT events, so we deployed it with a robot team deputy on patrol to perform routine patrol searches.

    

2013 K9 next to the Avatar I robot.In 2012, we asked, "Can a robot work with a police K9?" We started slow by just driving the robot near the dogs, letting them sniff and study it. Next we had the dog sit while we drove the robot around. Once the dogs were comfortable, we designed drills where the K9 would search for a hidden person. We let the robots open doors and watched the dogs search via the robot monitor. It was fascinating to watch the dogs interact with the robot.

 

A K9 handler explained during a search in the dark that his dog was trained to search a lit area, so we had the robot light an area. Not only did the dog search the area, it came back to the robot as it would a handler. Eventually, the handler was able to give the K9 direction via the robot. It worked so well, we were able to send a dog deep into a building without a human partner, yet we could still control where the dog was going!

 

Today, our robot team supports TNT, patrol, and K9 teams. We have nine members, three robots, and funding for two more units in the near future. ROVT is also available for public presentations.

 

Image shows a deputy using an RC controller to maneuver a mini robot. 

The Future of Robots and Law Enforcement

 

Your Sheriff's Office is well-positioned to enter the arena of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Search and Rescue operations.

 

In addition to enhancing our ability to find missing people in the woods or in inclement weather, UAS would enhance our Project Lifesaver and Help Me Home programs, both of which help us quickly locate missing disabled or mentally ill people who are prone to wandering away from home.

Community News

  

 

Sheriff's Media Releases

 

04/17/2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stack of newspapers 366x600

 

 

Driver Rams Patrol Cars During Pursuit (Aloha, Hillsboro)

Just before 7 am on Sunday, April 13, deputies attempted to stop the driver of a stolen vehicle and the 15-year-old driver took off. The pursuit went through Aloha to Highway 26 and into Hillsboro. The driver rammed a patrol car and eventually lost control and rolled his vehicle.  The suspect vehicle landed on its wheels at SW Tualatin Valley Highway near SW Imlay. As deputies moved in to make the arrest, the suspect accelerated and rammed a second patrol car. Thankfully, the suspect and deputies suffered no life-threatening injuries. He was charged with multiple crimes and lodged at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility.

 

Who Dumped that Garbage?  (Sherwood)

On April 1, a citizen reported someone illegally dumped garbage on his property near Sherwood. The deputy went to the rural area and saw the pile of garbage bags and an old barbeque grill. The junk was piled in the middle of three "No Trespassing" signs, one even said "No Dumping". The deputy found some mail and contacted the addressee. He initially denied knowing anything about the trash, but the deputy said he didn't think this was the "crime of the century" and he would appreciate a little honesty. After hesitating, the man admitted he followed a friend's suggestion and felt really foolish. The deputy sent him back to pick up all the trash he dumped. The landowner didn't press charges because all he wanted was the mess cleaned up.

 

Facebook Post Likely Saves Domestic Victim (North Plains)

On April 1 at about 7:45 pm, on-duty Tacticial Negotiations Team deputies responded to support North Plains police at the scene of a domestic dispute with shots fired. The report came in from a caller outside the county who received a Facebook message to call 9-1-1. When deputies arrived at an address on NW Dairy Creek Road, they heard yelling and gunshots. They also saw through a window that the man was attacking the woman with punches and observed a gun in the home. Deputies made entry and arrested the male suspect without incident. He was charged with Strangulation, Kidnapping, and Coercion. A neighbor who was without cell service relayed a request to call 911 via Facebook to her husband who was away on a business trip. The woman had likely been under attack for more than an hour, so the neighbor's quick thinking probably saved the victim's life.

 

Rapist Convicted (Aloha)

Thomas Alan Davis was convicted on April 10 of Kidnap I, Attempted Sex Abuse I, and Assault IV. On December 27, 2012, at 8:00 am, he ambushed a female jogger on Farmington Road at 209th Avenue and dragged her into a ditch where he attempted to rape her. The woman fought him off and managed to "fish hook" him in the mouth with her gloved finger and he fled the scene. Davis was also responsible for placing extremely violent notes on random women's cars. He now faces the possibility of a life sentence in prison.

 

There were very few initial leads, but Davis was eventually identified by DNA from the glove. Davis was a registered sex offender living just over a mile from the scene of the attack and he had two prior sex crimes convictions. Excellent work by the responding deputy and crime scene technician who collected the DNA!

 

More Local News You May Have Missed

04/10/14 - Washington County Crashes Kill 5 Within Days, Oregonian 
  
ICE Detainers No Longer Enforced

Landmark Decision Impacts Local Jail Operations

 

 

Dear Citizens, 

 

A U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge issued a ruling on Friday, April 11, 2014, that impacts operational decisions in the Washington County Jail. The case is Miranda-Olivares v. Clackamas County.

 

While I recognize there are strong feelings on both sides of the issue around ICE detainers in local jails, this decision is important to properly manage risk to Washington County in light of the federal ruling.

 

 

 

 

 

 In that case, a woman was arrested for a crime and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent the jail a standard ICE detainer. The detainer indicated that ICE had initiated an investigation to determine whether the woman was subject to removal from the United States (deportation). The detainer requested the jail to notify ICE when the inmate was scheduled to be released and to "maintain custody of alien for a period not to exceed 48 hours".

 

Clackamas County honored the detainer because the Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 287.7(d), says that after local charges are resolved, the jail " . . . shall maintain custody of the alien for a period not to exceed 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in order to permit assumption of custody by the Department."

 

However, the court determined that an ICE detainer is a request to hold the inmate for 48 hours, not a mandate; that jail officials used discretion when honoring the ICE detainer; and the jail violated the woman's civil rights by holding her after release on local criminal charges. The next step in that case is for the court to determine the amount of damages that will be paid to the woman for violating her civil rights.

  

Effective April 14, 2014, the Washington County Jail is no longer holding inmates based solely on a request from ICE. All ICE detainers for inmates in our custody were dropped (49). All 49 inmates with prior ICE detainers were not eligible for release. Most still had pending criminal charges that needed to be resolved before the ICE detainer would impact their custody status. Those who qualified for release after the ICE detainers were dropped were notified of their release options.

 

Of those with prior ICE detainers who were eligible for release, 6 were released on their own recognizance, and 6 were released and immediately taken into custody by ICE agents (due to protocols in place before the court decision). The remaining inmates, who still have criminal charges pending, were notified that they are eligible for release if they post bail. In fact, several have posted bail and been released, while others are making arrangements.

 

In the future, our jail will not hold inmates based solely on a request or detainer from ICE. We do not know if Clackamas County will appeal the court's decision, but until that happens, this case sets a precedent that we cannot ignore.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

  

Sheriff Pat Garrett     

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Interagency Teams Deploy

Armed Robbery Peacefully Resolved in Forest Grove

 

A clip of video from KOIN.com - clicking on it will take you off this site.
Photo by KOIN - click to jump to video on KOIN.com

The owner of an auto dealership in Forest Grove, with his wife and young son along, was getting ready to close for the day, when a man with a gun walked in and demanded money from the owner's wallet and then from the safe. The owner told him there was no safe, but the man didn't believe him.  As a struggle ensued, shots were fired, but the owner and his family were able to escape the building.

 

A short time earlier, a citizen called 911 to report seeing a man with a shotgun walking toward the business. Forest Grove police were quick to arrive. With the suspect barricading himself inside the building, Forest Grove police quickly called the Washington County Interagency Tactical Negotiation and Crisis Negotiations Unit for assistance.

 

If you were in the area, you likely saw the awesome convoy that parted rush hour traffic. It included armored and other specialty vehicles, tactical experts, snipers, a mobile command post, and the trove of the equipment and munitions at their disposal. Few people know that it also included the Remotely Operated Vehicle Team and its operators.

 

Three remotely controlled robots were deployed inside the building, where they relayed helpful to the command post to help inform tactical decisions. The suspect was eventually forced out of the building when chemical munitions were deployed inside the building. The suspect, previously convicted of murder, was arrested and taken into custody without anyone being seriously injured.

 

Washington County interagency and Sheriff's Office-led teams deploy in support of any city police department in our county on critical incidents.

 

Other stories about this incident that you may have missed:

04/09/2014    Armed, Barricaded Suspect leads to Police Standoff in Forest Grove 

04/10/2014    SWAT Standoff ends in Arrest

04/14/2014    Thanks to First Responders Involved in Police Standoff

Volunteers Save Nearly $1 Million in 2013!

 

Last year, 284 dedicated and hardworking professionals and lay citizens donated 43,063 hours of their time providing critical services to taxpayers free of charge. That is the equivalent to about 20 full-time workers.  If we apply the Independent Sector hourly value of volunteer time of $22.55, this translates to a benefit of $971,070.65!  

  • The WCSO Volunteer logo In our Jail, volunteers are counseling and criminal justice interns, chaplains, reserve jail deputies, providers of valuable administrative support, and more.
  • On Patrol, they work in search and rescue, as reserve deputies, disabled parking enforcement, posse, amateur radio emergency services, and technical and medical volunteers on special teams.
  • They also provide assistance to elder victims of fraud, crime prevention, and accomplish a wide variety of clerical work.

 

Your Sheriff's Office would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of people who volunteered in 2013 to support our mission of Conserving the Peace in Washington County.

 
Because We're Neighbors

Your Crime Prevention Team at Work

 

Crime Prevention logo  

  
APRIL HOME SAFETY TIP - WINDOW FALLS CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR HOME
 
Last summer, a toddler in Sherwood suffered serious injuries when he fell from the second story window of his house. You might think it won't happen in your home, but it happens to children of firefighters, nurses, and police officers. It can happen to anyone. 
 
In their honor, please keep windows closed and locked when they are not in use. Kids love to climb, so try to avoid putting furniture or shelving near windows. There are also some handy, and inexpensive, locks to prevent windows from opening more than 4". Let the fresh air in, but don't let the little ones fall out!   
 
Contact your Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Specialist for more information on home safety or for a home security assessment.  

A map of burglaries in unincorporated Washington County.   

 

BURGLARY REPORTS

 

Our map and list show residential and business burglaries for the month of March 2014 in unincorporated Washington County. The data includes break-ins of vacant outbuildings, sheds, and homes under construction, so people are not always in danger.

 

Also, many calls are initially reported as burglaries, but do not turn out to be verified. Addresses are rounded to the nearest hundredth block for security.

 

 

FREE EVENTS

 

Drug Turn-In Event - Saturday, April 26, 10 am to 2 pm

Clear your medicine cabinet of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications and drop them off at the free drug turn-in event. It's environmentally friendly and prevents them from ending up in the wrong hands. Join us at the Bales Market Place Thriftway in Aloha. We will accept medication in pill or liquid form - no questions asked! (We cannot accept illegal drugs, medical waste, or syringes.) 

 

Drive-Thru Carseat Safety Clinic - Wednesdays April 30 or May 10 

Come to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, 3 to 5 pm, and let our crime prevention team and other emergency responders inspect your carseats for size, installation and use. It's free and it keeps your kids safe!

 

Landlord Forum - Wednesday, May 14, 6:30 to 8 pm 

Legal experts will teach property owners and managers about "Terminating a Tenancy - The Right Way". Forums are held at PCC Willow Creek. 

 

For more details and events, visit the Sheriff's Community Calendar!

 
 
AMERICA'S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME - YOU'RE INVITED!
 
National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 5! 
Get ready to turn on your porch light and step out to celebrate our nation's Night Out Against Crime with your neighbors, deputies, and your community!
 
Your Sheriff's Office is joining with community partners to host several large community celebrations throughout the county. 
No matter where you live, you can join the party and send a message to criminals that citizens and police are working together to fight crime.
 
Beginning in May, you will be able to register and invite a deputy from your patrol district to neighborhood celebrations and block parties. Please save the date!
  

Dumb Crook 

 

A woman recently requested a deputy to come to her house to pick up a gun for safekeeping. She is divorcing her husband, although they were still living together, and he was acting strange. She wanted it out of the house for family safety. [So far, all of this is smart.] The woman explained that she didn't know where the gun was, because her husband hid it from her after she jokingly threatened to shoot him with it. She insisted she was being sarcastic and the incident was a joke. 

 

She didn't know her husband had recorded the event. The tape showed that she was very angry and wanted her husband to leave the bed so she could go to sleep, so she pulled out the gun and threatened to shoot him. Understanding her need for rest, detectives found her a private bed, courtesy of the county jail.
This Month's "Most Wanted"  

David Pasiemiak is 5'08", 155 pounds, with graying brown hair and brown eyes. He is wanted on charges of Rape, Sodomy, Sex Abuse, and Unlawful Sexual Penetration. Mr. Pasiemiak has lived in North Plains and Portland. Wanted Poster

Jeremiah Keller is 6'0 1", 160 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He is wanted for violating his probation for conviction of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Mr. Keller has lived in Aloha and Washington State. Wanted Poster

  
Do not approach these individuals. If you see them or have information, call the Sheriff's Office Records Unit at (503) 846-2700, or non-emergency dispatch at (503) 629-0111.

  

 

 

 

www.sheriffsmostwanted.com

 

  
  
   
 
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