Police vehicle struck while blocking road
SPRINGFIELD – Rapid pulsing lights atop a Springfield Police vehicle were not enough to deter a Springfield man from slamming into the parked vehicle on March 30.
The accident took place at 8:27 p.m. at the intersections of Mohawk and Centennial boulevards. The officer was blocking off traffic while Springfield Utility Board workers repaired a water main break, which had caused the area to flood.
The officer was sitting in the vehicle with his K9 when a pick-up truck driven by John Manuel, 69, of Springfield went through the intersection at appx. 40 miles per hour and crashed into the officer’s vehicle, deploying the airbags and causing significant damage to the patrol car.
The officer, whose name was not provided, was transported to the hospital via ambulance and was later released. The K9 was also evaluated for injuries and did not appear to be hurt.
Manuel was arrested and charged with reckless driving. Witnesses said Manuel appeared to be looking down before traveling through the intersection.
Springfield PD recover $19k in stolen bikes
SPRINGFIELD – Between February and March, two Springfield Police officers recovered and returned roughly $19,000 worth of stolen bikes.
The names of the officers were not released. For clarity, the officers are referred to as Officer A and Officer B.
In one instance, Officer A saw an e-bike – retailed at $1,900 – unsecured in front of a house. The serial number matched a stolen report filed 11 months earlier. It was returned to its owner.
Officer A also saw someone with a nearly-new downhill mountain bike – valued at nearly $9,000 – being ridden down Main Street. That serial number also came back stolen from a Eugene bike shop that had been burglarized.
In a third instance, Officer B, while off-duty, noticed that a newer bike on Facebook Marketplace was listed below its $600 estimated value. Officer B contacted Officer A, who identified the bike as stolen, and returned it to its owners.
Officers A and B teamed up again, this time with their roles reversed. While off-duty, Officer A spotted a high-end bike being ridden in Springfield, and contacted Officer B, who was on-duty. Officer B tracked down the bike – valued at roughly $8,000 – to the previously mentioned burglary and return it to its owner.
Knife fight ends in arrest in unhoused camp
COTTAGE GROVE – Three people were injured after a knife fight broke out at 443 N. Douglas St., where a designated campsite for the unhoused is located, according to Cottage Grove Police.
In the early hours of March 29, Heather M. Cardinal, 48, reportedly returned to the camp and was acting erratically, threatening other tenants while holding a folding pocket knife. Cardinal was reported to have attacked one person by slashing at him with the folding knife, resulting in a cut on the arm. Two other tenants of the camp intervened and restrained Cardinal until officers arrived.
Three people were treated for injuries at the scene. Cardinal was not injured. Cardinal was charged with Assault II, Menacing, Disorderly Conduct II, and Harassment, and was lodged at Lane County Jail. During the investigation, officers found what is believed to be a small amount of methamphetamine in Cardinal’s possession. The investigation is ongoing.
Doggone good work: K9s sniff out fentanyl
SPRINGFIELD – A recent addition to Lane County Sheriff’s Office is proving to be a valuable partner.
K9 Bear on March 25 assisted in locating a kilo of pure fentanyl and approximately 50,000 fentanyl pills that were located in a hidden compartment of the vehicle during a traffic stop. The occupants of the vehicle have been referred for prosecution. The location and the suspect’s names were not released.
The next day, K9 Bear led police to locate a large amount of fentanyl during a traffic stop near the 1800 block of Franklin Blvd.
K9 Bear initially alerted officers to an undisclosed drug inside the cab of the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed approximately 2.5 kilograms – 5.5 pounds – of blue fentanyl based pills and approximately half a kilogram – 1.1 pounds – of pure pressed fentanyl powder.
Another K9, Springfield Police’s Cash, intercepted nearly six pounds of fentanyl between January and February.
“Just like every other community across the state, the SPD responds to fentanyl related criminal activity, overdoses, and deaths almost daily,” said Chief Andrew Shearer.
Drug trafficking organizations typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram has the potential to kill 500,000 people, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In 2023, DEA seized more than 79.5 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2023 seizures are equivalent to more than 376.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl. The 2024 fentanyl seizures represent over 93.7 million deadly doses.
Party ends with gunfire, no injuries
SPRINGFIELD — A house party ended with gunshots in the early morning of March 24.
When Springfield Police arrived on the scene on the 6,900 block of Jessica Drive, party-goers were seen fleeing after gunshots were reportedly fired into the house. Witnesses said that the party started as a small gathering and then turned into a large party with uninvited guests.
When the hosts asked the uninvited residents to leave, a disagreement broke out. The uninvited people left the party, then later returned and fired multiple rounds of ammunition from a handgun into the home and nearby property before running away.
No injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing. Any witnesses are asked to contact SPD at 541-726-3721.
Theft operations recover $6k in stolen goods
SPRINGFIELD – During a five hour period, 10 retail thieves were arrested and $6,211 worth of stolen property was recovered from Gateway area businesses on March 18.
The Springfield Police Department Crime Reduction Unit worked with loss prevention personnel from multiple Gateway businesses to undergo retail theft missions. Multiple charges were lodged against the suspects, including Theft II and III, Criminal Trespass I and II, Unlawful Possession of Meth (Substantial Quantity), UPCS Schedule II (Fentanyl), DWS-Misdemeanor, and Escape III.
