House fire leaves 1 dead
■ COTTAGE GROVE — On Jan. 16 just after 2:30 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies and South Lane Fire & Rescue personnel responded to a report of a fully involved house fire in the 37000 block of Meyer Road outside of Cottage Grove, which left one person dead inside the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation with assistance from the State Fire Marshal and an investigator with the Oregon State Police. The victim’s identity is being withheld at this time and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1.
Generator-caused fire leaves 1 dead, 1 injured
■ COTTAGE GROVE — One died and another was burned in a house fire on the 32000 block of Green Acres Loop during the ice storm. On Jan. 19 at around 4:30 a.m., fire personnel transported one fire and found one victim deceased inside the home. Another victim was located inside the home, and was transported to the hospital with burn injuries. The identities of the victims are being withheld at this time.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but may have been related to a generator that was running inside the garage of the residence, police said. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to always run generators outside, and follow manufacturer’s recommendations when connecting electrical equipment. For more generator safety tips, visit ESFi.org/generator-safety.
1 dead in single-vehicle crash
■ PLEASANT HILL — On the morning of Jan. 21, Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash into a muddy field along Edenvale Road near Highway 58, Pleasant Hill. Deputies located the driver deceased underneath the vehicle, a 2014 Nissan Altima. The driver is believed to have been the only occupant, and was likely not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, resulting in her ejection from the vehicle. The crash reportedly occurred sometime the night before, but was not discovered by area residents until morning. The driver’s identity is being withheld at this time.
Cottage Grove woman indicted for violent threats
■ COTTAGE GROVE — A federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment last Thursday charging a Cottage Grove woman with posting a violent threat online, announced this week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Elizabeth Ballesteros West, 56, has been charged with one count of transmitting an interstate threat.
According to court documents, in late September 2023, the FBI received an anonymous tip that West was threatening coworkers on Facebook. Later, in November 2023, the FBI learned West had established an account on X (formerly known as Twitter) that she was allegedly using to post and repost memes, videos and statements containing violent messages targeting Black and Jewish people and immigrants. Several of West’s posts included what appeared to be self-produced photos of firearms including several handguns, a shotgun, and an AR-style assault rifle.
On Jan. 3, West admitted to posting and reposting messages on X that contained hateful and violent rhetoric. West also admitted to possessing multiple shotguns and AR-15 assault rifles at her Cottage Grove residence.
One week later, on Jan. 9, the FBI executed federal search warrants on West’s person, vehicle, and residence. They located and seized 12 handguns, 16 rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearm accessories, and a journal that appeared to contain writings and drawings that included additional hateful and violent statements. On Jan. 12 FBI agents arrested West without incident at her workplace in Eugene.
West made her first appearance in federal court last week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained.
This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Cottage Grove Police Department, Eugene Police Department, and Lane County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man steals utility truck as workers repair power lines
■ COTTAGE GROVE — On the evening of Jan. 18, construction workers noticed one of their power pole utility trucks was missing. This truck was a key part of the ongoing power repair efforts in the Creswell and Cottage Grove area after the ice storm. The workers tracked the vehicle to a driveway off of Highway 99 near the community of Saginaw and contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded and assisted with recovery of the stolen truck, which had become stuck in a driveway. Deputies identified the suspect as David Paul Burns. He was contacted that afternoon and arrested for Aggravated Theft 1, Theft 1, and Criminal Mischief 1.
MONDAY, JAN. 8 (80 total calls)
Top calls: Traffic stop (22), Criminal trespass (9), Theft (7)
12:02 am: Theft, 625 S. 34th St.
6:14 am: Theft from vehicle, 1186 M St.
8:27 am: Burglary, 611 Cloverleaf Lp.
11:37 am: Burglary, 2602 V St.
8:57 am: Theft, 650 Q St.
10:46 am: Criminal trespass, 2000 19th St.
10:08 am: Criminal trespass, 885 Oakdale Ave.
10:15 am: Theft, 1565 Mohawk Blvd.
1:54 am: Burglary, 597 Aspen St.
2:44 pm: Criminal trespass, 3752 International Ct.
2:55 pm: Theft, 3300 Gateway St.
5:28 pm: Criminal trespass, 788 70th St.
8:42 pm: Theft of service, 117 S. 14th St.
10:54 pm: Criminal trespass, 230 4th St.
TUESDAY, JAN. 9 (79)
Top calls: Subpoena service (8), Traffic stop (7), Criminal trespass (7)
4:54 am: Theft from vehicle, 723 Oakdale Ave.
8:45 am: Hit & run, 2730 Gateway St.
9:53 am: Theft from vehicle, 916 Cloverleaf Lp.
10:01 am: Criminal trespass, 33 V St.
1:04 pm: Theft from vehicle, 1039 Centennial Blvd.
5:08 pm: Criminal trespass, 1920 Olympic St.
8:36 pm: Theft from vehicle, 1869 Pioneer Pkwy. E.
9:13 pm: Shot(s) fired, 900-block Water St.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10 (75)
Top calls: Traffic stop (10), Dispute (5), Criminal trespass (5)
12:22 am: DUII, 300-block S. 42nd Pl.
12:23 am: Recovered stolen vehicle, 1665 18th St.
4:37 am: DUII, 1396 Main St.
4:50 am: Theft from vehicle, 2793 S. Cloverleaf Lp.
5:49 am: DUII, Gateway St./Oakdale Ave.
8:50 am: Illegal burning, Centennial Blvd./Pioneer Pkwy. W.
10:52 am: Assault, 520 Harlow Rd.
11:35 am: Hit & run, S. 8th St./Main St.
1:03 pm: Illegal dumping, 4708 Main St.
1:18 pm: Hit & run, 3300 Gateway St.
1:55 pm: Assault, 333 58th St.
4:03 pm: Hit & run, 1111 Mohawk Blvd.
4:48 pm: Theft by deception, 3572 Cherokee Dr.
5:04 pm: Hit & run, 21st St./J St.
6:11 pm: Theft, Daisy St./S. 42nd St.
THURSDAY, JAN. 11 (92)
Top calls: Traffic stop (16), Theft (9), Criminal trespass (5)
12:24 am: Driving while suspended, Custom Way/Centennial Blvd.
1:14 am: Reckless burning, 3375 Gateway St.
7:36 am: Hit & run, I-105 EB/Mohawk Blvd.
9:01 am: Theft, 483 Shelley St.
9:59 am: Recovered stolen property, 195 S. 14th St.
12:26 pm: Stolen vehicle, 4955 High Banks Rd.
12:33 pm: Theft of services, 1869 Pioneer Pkwy. E.
1:02 pm: Theft of services, 563 W. Centennial Blvd.
2:02 pm: Criminal trespass, 355 S. A St.
2:16 pm: Burglary, 633 Poltava St.
2:52 pm: Shoplifter(s), 5755 Main St.
3:15 pm: Theft, 1920 Olympic St.
4:22 pm: Minor(s) in possession, 900 S, 32nd St.
4:48 pm: Forgery, 675 32nd St.
4:59 pm: Stolen vehicle, 1250 Rainbow Dr.
5:46 pm: Theft, 2760 Gateway St.
6:30 pm: Theft, 2760 Gateway St.
9:20 pm: Hit & run, 4095 Main St.
FRIDAY, JAN. 12 (77)
Top calls: Dispute (9), Traffic stop (6), Criminal trespass (4)
7:30 am: Criminal trespass, 404 C St.
10:43 am: Dispute, 320 51 St.
12:08 pm: Hit & run, 1747 Main St.
1:24 pm: Recovered stolen vehicle, 225-block 5th St.
1:58 pm: Hit & run, 2800 Gateway St.
2:34 pm: Theft, 2659 Olympic St.
5:24 pm: Hit & run, Laura St./I-105 WB on-ramp
5:42 pm: Theft, 1276 G St.
8:33 pm: Menacing, 171 S. 41st St.
9:00 pm: Shot(s) fired, 89670 Game Farm Rd., Eugene
11:37 pm: DUII, 28th St./Olympic St.
SATURDAY, JAN. 13 (148)
Top calls: Tree down (65), Down line (22), Criminal trespass (7)
2:30 am: Criminal trespass, 3018 Gateway St.
12:38 pm: Forgery, 4198 Main St.
12:39 pm: Forgery, 1611 18th St.
7:11 pm: Dispute, 565 Harlow Rd.
9:00 pm: Hit & run, 125 D St.
SUNDAY, JAN. 14 (96)
Top calls: Tree down (27), Down line (20), Suspicious conditions (3)
12:32 am: DUII, Pioneer Pkwy. W./I-105 WB
7:36 am: Illegal burning, 1509 Mohawk Blvd.
10:19 am: Hit & run, 1572 S. 59th St.
2:01 pm: Theft from vehicle, 987 Kruse Way
4:54 pm: Criminal trespass, 316 42nd St.
MONDAY, JAN. 15 (56)
Top calls: Dispute (5), Tree down (5), Warrant service (4)
1:50 am: Recovered stolen vehicle, Pioneer Pkwy. W./Q St.
9:25 am: Stolen vehicle, 475 Lindale Dr.
10:41 am: Theft, Centennial Blvd./Pioneer Pkwy. W.
TUESDAY, JAN. 16 (49)
Top calls: Alarm (12), Tree down (5), Down line (3)
12:46 pm: Assault, 4938 Glacier Dr.
1:22 pm: Recovered stolen vehicle, 225-block 5th St.
10:33 pm: Illegal burning, 33rd St./Main St.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 (56)
Top calls: Traffic stop (6), Tree down (4), Down line (4)
6:57 am: Burglary, 6898 Main St.
11:04 am: Burglary, 4027 Main St.
1:05 pm: Theft from vehicle, 752 9th St.
11:46 pm: DUII, Pioneer Pkwy. W./Centennial Blvd.
THURSDAY, JAN. 18 (60)
Top calls: Criminal trespass (7), Dispute (6), Theft (4)
1:11 am: Criminal trespass, 1460 G St.
3:06 am: DUII, Harlow Rd./Game Farm Rd.
9:52 am: Criminal trespass, 3165 Gateway St.
11:46 am: Theft, 355 S. A St.
12:58 pm: Menacing, 338 S. 43rd Pl.
1:59 pm: Hit & run, 3535 Game Farm Rd.
4:46 pm: Theft, 1955 3rd St.
6:01 pm: Recovered stolen vehicle, 4720 Main St.
9:27 pm: DUII, 4202 Main St.
FRIDAY, JAN. 19 (92)
Top calls: Traffic stop (14), Hit & run (6), Criminal trespass (6)
12:11 am: Hit & run, 4795 Franklin Blvd., Eugene
6:28 am: Theft, 205 S. 54th St.
10:22 am: Graffiti calls, 151 Main St.
10:38 am: Hit & run, 711 Mill St.
10:49 am: Burglary, 1175 G St.
11:22 am: Forgery, 748 T St.
12:25 pm: Forgery, 1981 Mohawk Blvd.
1:23 pm: Hit & run, 626 S. 3rd St.
1:55 pm: Hit & run, 157-block 12th St.
2:29 pm: Armed subject(s), 4069 Virginia Ave.
3:13 pm: DUII, 28th St./Main St.
6:04 pm: Hit & run, 548 S. 3rd St..
6:08 pm: Theft from vehicle, 183 Q St.
8:36 pm: Criminal trespass, 404 C St.
10:05 pm: Hit & run, 1505 Mohawk Blvd.
SATURDAY, JAN. 20 (65)
Top calls: Dispute (7), Traffic stop (5), Criminal trespass (5)
2:26 am: DUII, 1500-block S. A St.
2:55 am: DUII, Main St./S 15th St.
10:05 am: Stolen vehicle, 918 Northridge Ave.
11:34 am: Theft, 215 N Ct.
12:52 pm: Theft, 2659 Olympic St.
3:31 pm: Hit & run, 855 A St.
4:48 pm: DUII, 3400-block Main St.
6:13 pm: Burglary, 1010 Postal Way
7:40 pm: Theft, 2090 Olympic St.
11:24 pm: Menacing, 713 Oakdale Ave.
SUNDAY, JAN. 21 (59)
Top calls: Criminal trespass (6), Traffic stop (5), Dispute (5)
9:21 am: Theft, 4885 Aster St.
9:54 am: Assault, 839 Centennial Blvd.
10:03 am: Stab wound, 937 L St.
12:57 pm: Criminal trespass, 1920 Olympic St.
2:51 pm: DUII, 1000 Royal Caribbean Way
8:54 pm: Hit & run, 3212 S. E Ct.
8:59 pm: Theft from vehicle, 1807 Pioneer Pkwy. E.
MONDAY, JAN. 8
2:03 pm: Suspicious conditions, 390 Melton Rd.
2:40 pm: Suspicious subject, 85 Emerald Pkwy.
2:44 pm: Hit & run, 200 D St.
3:02 pm: Harass, 1000 Swale Ridge Lp.
4:52 pm: Harass, 500 Gilfry Ave.
TUESDAY, JAN. 9
9:17 am: Criminal mischief, 400 Hillegas Ave.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10
7:01 am: Weapons offense, 700 N. Mill St.
12:10 pm: Trespassing, 24 W. Oregon Ave.
2:02 pm: Trespassing, 298 E. Oregon Ave.
3:56 pm: Illegal camping, Creswod Dr./Blue Jay Lp.
THURSDAY, JAN. 11
7:11 pm: Runaway, 400 N. 5th St.
FRIDAY, JAN. 12
11:47 am: Recovered stolen vehicle, 100 S. 3rd St.
6:48 pm: Check welfare, 300 Mary Neal Ln.
SATURDAY, JAN. 13
3:48 am: Overdue subject, 213 S. Front St.
1:47 pm: Suicidal subject, 300 Mary Neal Ln.
9:46 pm: Assault, 100 Sandalwood Lp.
SUNDAY, JAN. 14
5:45 am: Dispute, 100 N. 10th St.
11:11 am: Hazardous conditions, E. Cloverdale Rd./E. Oregon Ave.
9:57 pm: Mental health subject, 200 Melton Rd.
Note: There were 9 “tree down” calls.
MONDAY, JAN. 15
10:23 am: Disorderly juveniles, Creswood Dr./Auburn Ln.
11:30 am: Criminal mischief, 125 N. Mill St.
5:02 pm: Mental health subject, 247 Melton Rd.
TUESDAY, JAN. 16
12:07 pm: Dispute, 200 Meadow Ln.
1:58 pm: Hit & run, 500 S. 7th St.
5:57 pm: Dispute, 298 E. Oregon Ave.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17
6:35 am: Stolen vehicle, 400 Holbrook Ln.
7:24 am: Burglary, 110 N. Mill St.
7:54 am: Burglary, 125 N. Mill St.
9:40 pm: Suspicious conditions, 167 N. 8th St.
THURSDAY, JAN. 18
4:35 am: RR problem, W. Oregon Ave./N. Front St.
4:07 pm: Dispute, 400 Holbrook Ln.
FRIDAY, JAN. 19
9:40 am: Gas leak, 351 D St.
4:55 pm: Arrest, 800 Osprey Lp.
6:26 pm: Hit & run, 500 S. 7th St.
7:01 pm: Hit & run, 100 B St.
11:51 pm: Prowler, 900 Barber Dr.
SATURDAY, JAN. 20
12:00 am: House fire, 700 N. Mill St.
12:11 am: Intoxicated subject, 298 E. Oregon Ave.
SUNDAY, JAN. 21
6:55 am: Explosion, 100 Almond Way
9:12 am: Civil service, 1204 Creswood Dr.
11:36 am: Civil service, 556 Creswood Dr.
4:01 pm: Theft, 190 Emerald Pkwy.
MONDAY, JAN. 8 (176 total calls)
Medical responses: 158
12:18 pm: Car accident, injury unknown, Olympic St./28th St.
TUESDAY, JAN. 9 (174)
Medical responses: 135
3:21 am: Electrical fire, 40630 Deerhorn Rd., Springfield
3:39 am: Appliance fire, 709 53rd St., Springfield
4:18 am: Down line, 455 Adams Ave., Cottage Grove
7:13 pm: Electrical problem, 5275 E St., Springfield
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10 (192)
Medical responses: 166
5:49 am: Car accident with injury, Gateway St./Oakdale Ave., SPR
12:39 pm: Check for smoke, 1400-block N. Douglas St., CG
2:28 pm: Carbon monoxide alarm, 42911 Deerhorn Rd., Springfield
2:54 pm: Flue fire, 1440 F St., SPR
5:46 pm: Smoke from a structure, 2260 Marcola Rd., Springfield
THURSDAY, JAN. 11 (150)
Medical responses: 117
9:26 am: Appliance fire, 606 Fairview Dr., Springfield
1:25 pm: House fire, 24170 Suttle Rd., Veneta
6:41 pm: Car accident, injury unknown, Cardinal Way/Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., Springfield
FRIDAY, JAN. 12 (163)
Medical responses: 129
11:49 am: Vehicle-pedestrian accident, 650 Q St., SPR
5:42 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Pioneer Pkwy. E./I-105 EB on-ramp, Springfield
6:09 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, McKenzie Hwy./MP12, SPR
7:04 pm: Appliance fire, 1820 S. 11th St., Cottage Grove
7:31 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Q St./Pioneer Pkwy. E., SPR
SATURDAY, JAN. 13 (324)
Medical response: 177
Down line: 46
Fire: 12
Fire alarm: 10
Electrical problem: 10
Other calls:
6:33 am: Car accident, unknown injury, Gateway St./Beltline Rd., SPR
6:39 am: Car accident, unknown injury, Jasper Rd./MP03, SPR
10:12 am: Car accident, unknown injury,18256 I-5 NB, Creswell
1:49 pm: Brush fire, 77895 Mosby Creek Rd., Cottage Grove
2:29 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, 372 I-105 WB, Springfield
6:36 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, 735 I-105 EB, Springfield
7:08 pm: Minor structure fire, 333 58th St., Springfield
7:39 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, 17676 I-5 SB, CG
8:31 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Marcola Rd./Nadeau Rd., SPR
8:37 pm: Outside gas leak, 32460 Deberry Rd., Creswell
9:38 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Hwy. 58/MP05, Pl. Hill
9:50 pm: Assault with injury, 81 Sandalwood Lp., Creswell
10:09 pm: Structure fire, 2109 J St., Springfield
SUNDAY, JAN. 14 (436)
Medical responses: 307
Down line: 21
Fire alarm: 20
Fire: 12
Electrical problem: 15
Other calls:
1:35 am: Car accident, unknown injury, Hwy. 58/MP23, Lowell
5:00 am: Car accident, unknown injury, 36010 Jasper Rd., SPR
5:17 am: Car accident, unknown injury, 17222 I-5 SB, CG
8:18 am: Car accident with injury, 17146 I-5 NB, Cottage Grove
11:47 am: Car accident, unknown injury, Hwy. 99/E. Harvey Rd., Creswell
12:18 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, 35885 Ellington Dr., SPR
4:44 pm: Check for smoke, 600 Dale Kuni Rd., Creswell
MONDAY, JAN. 15 (442)
Medical responses: 355
1:54 am: House fire, 33700-block Meyer Rd., CG
5:04 am: Flue fire, 1204 Long Ridge Dr., SPR
8:54 am: Minor structure fire, 32142 Nichols Ln., CG
3:41 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Main St./Bob Straub Pkwy., SPR
5:23 pm: Hazardous material, 2074 Bryant Ave., CG
6:00 pm: Smoke from a structure, 1498 Delrose Ave., SPR
7:03 pm: House fire, 37829 Wheeler Rd., Dexter
9:16 pm: Electrical fire, 316 42nd St., SPR
11:26 pm: Vehicle-pedestrian accident, 1577 1st St., SPR
TUESDAY, JAN. 16 (387)
Medical responses: 281
12:35 am: Car accident, unknown injury, 30498 Camas Swale Rd., Creswell
2:31 am: Vehicle fire, 77810 Center St., CG
6:59 am: Hazardous material, 34437 Garoutte Rd., CG
11:47 am: Car accident with injury, Cloverdale Rd./Bradford Rd., Creswell
2:13 pm: Electrical problem, J St./Mohawk Blvd., SPR
2:53 pm: Electrical problem, 1448 Yolanda Ave., SPR
3:02 pm: Minor structure fire, 54th St./A St., SPR
4:43 pm: Minor structure fire, S. 14th St./S. A St., SPR
5:30 pm: Hazardous material, 1009 S. 70th St., SPR
7:47 pm: House fire, 657 N. 9th St., CG
9:32 pm: Flue fire, 1460 S. 4th St., CG
9:41 pm: Smoke from a structure, 77712 Mosby Creek Rd., CG
11:10 pm: House fire, 203 Buttercup Lp., CG
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 (416)
Medical responses: 288
6:21 am: Car accident, unknown injury, 17154 I-5 SB, CG
1:03 pm: Electrical problem, 78567 Halderman Rd., CG
4:25 pm: Smoke from a structure, 1924 Centennial Blvd., SPR
4:46 pm: House fire, 664 Sunset Dr., SPR
6:16 pm: Electrical fire, Camp Creek Rd./Swearingen Rd., SPR
7:47 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Gateway Blvd./E. Main St., CG
THURSDAY, JAN. 18 (275)
Medical responses: 206
12:05 pm: House fire, 250 Chapman Ln., SPR
3:14 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, I-105 EB/52nd St., SPR
3:46 pm: Apartment fire, 2005 Marcola Rd., SPR
4:58 pm: Flue fire, 37036 Hwy. 58, Pleasant Hill
6:13 pm: Mobile home fire, 1263 Main St., SPR
9:26 pm: Appliance fire, 1131 Chestnut Ave., CG
FRIDAY, JAN. 19 (232)
Medical responses: 184
4:24 am: House fire, 32388 Green Acres Lp., CG
9:38 am: Gas leak, structure, 351 D St., Creswell
12:50 pm: Appliance fire, 1390-block L St., SPR
1:49 pm: Gas leak, structure, 592 Creswood Lp., Creswell
1:50 pm: Check for smoke, Smith Lp./43rd Pl., SPR
5:38 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, 17146 I-5 NB, CG
9:06 pm: Leaking hydrant, N. 9th St./Thayer Ave., CG
11:58 pm: House fire, 700 N. Mill St., Creswell
SATURDAY, JAN. 20 (210)
Medical responses: 162
7:21 am: Car accident with injury, Cottage Grove Lorane Rd./MP10, CG
5:52 pm: Outside gas leak, 28th St./J St., SPR
9:05 pm: Electrical problem, 171 Sweet Ln., CG
SUNDAY, JAN. 21 (217)
Medical responses: 170
7:23 am: Vehicle fire, 18256 I-5 NB, Creswell
7:48 am: Car accident, unknown injury, 437 I-105 EB, SPR
10:07 am: Stab wound, 937 L St., SPR
1:35 pm: Apartment fire, 6330 Main St., SPR
2:51 pm: Vehicle-pedestrian accident, 1000 Royal Caribbean Way, SPR
6:04 pm: Car accident, unknown injury, Mohawk Blvd./Centennial Blvd., SPR
