Cottage Grove man arrested for stabbing incident
COTTAGE GROVE – A Cottage Grove man was arrested for allegedly stabbing a female victim on Oct. 12, just before midnight. Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the incident at 502 E. Madison Ave.
Fernando G. Rodas Martin, 26, allegedly assaulted the victim, who was known to him, before fleeing the scene. Friends transported the victim to the hospital, where she was treated for her injuries and later released.
Officers located evidence of the stabbing upon arrival but did not find Martin at the scene. He later returned to the 502 East Madison Apartment complex, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Rodas Martin was lodged in the Lane County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, first-degree criminal trespass, and first-degree criminal mischief. He also had a warrant for violating a previous release agreement.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time. The Cottage Grove Police Department thanked the Lane County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the matter.
Police: Social media gun rumors unfounded regarding Homecoming
COTTAGE GROVE – The Cottage Grove Police Department on Monday, Oct. 13 addressed concerns regarding reports of a possible threat to school safety that were received during the Cottage Grove High School homecoming dance on Oct. 10.
Officers responded immediately and worked closely with school staff to investigate the allegations that were posted on the Cottage Grove community pages on Facebook. After a thorough and comprehensive investigation, officers determined that there was no firsthand information or credible threat to the safety of students or staff.
Forest Patrol solves property crimes
COTTAGE GROVE – A recent investigation by the Lane County Sheriff’s Forest Patrol has led to multiple arrests in connection with a series of thefts and break-ins affecting local logging companies and government property.
In June, employees of a local logging company reported vandalism and theft in the Sharps Creek Road area. The investigation intensified after a second company reported similar incidents on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, with extensive property taken, including tools, fire hoses, and vehicles. Gate locks were cut, and “No Trespassing” signs were removed during these incidents.
On Aug. 22, U.S. Forest Service personnel at the Dorena Genetic Research Center on Shoreview Drive reported an overnight break-in, during which several buildings and employee vehicles were vandalized, and items were stolen. The same logging company experienced further losses when their fire truck was stolen on Aug. 29. Lane County deputies and Bureau of Land Management Rangers searched for the suspect vehicle and ultimately located a large quantity of fire hose discarded in an embankment.
A Cottage Grove Police officer found the suspect vehicle on North River Road early on Aug. 30.
The driver, 40-year-old Michael Duane Vanbrocklin of Cottage Grove, was contacted. Further investigation led deputies to a remote National Forest road in the Brice Creek area, where they found the stolen fire truck.
Another suspect, 31-year-old Dillon McQuade Praay, was apprehended near the vehicle with possession of the keys.
On Aug. 31, deputies received an itemized list of stolen property from the Dorena Genetic Research Center burglary and found many of these items in Vanbrocklin’s vehicle. A search warrant for Vanbrocklin’s home was granted on Sept. 1, leading to a search conducted on Sept. 3 that uncovered further stolen property and various signs, but several items, including two stolen firearms, were not located.
Vanbrocklin was arrested and lodged in jail following the search. On Sept. 4, further investigations at a transient camp in the Brice Creek area led to the recovery of additional stolen property and the arrest of Praay, who had a pending parole violation warrant.
On Sept. 24, a grand jury indicted Vanbrocklin on 12 charges, which include four counts of theft in the first degree, two counts of burglary in the second degree, and two counts of felony possession of a firearm. Praay was indicted on charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief in the first degree, and unlawful theft of special forest products.
