On Oct. 15 at about 11 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 800 block of S. 70th Street, Springfield. The suspect, Zachary Ryan Freeman, 35, of Springfield, was contacted and arrested.
Freeman was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree, 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree, and Invasion of Personal Privacy in the 1st Degree.
This search warrant stemmed from an investigation by the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, focusing on child exploitation. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office received assistance during this investigation from the Oregon Department of Justice and FBI.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.
One dead in UTV crash
On Oct. 20 at approximately 5 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded along with fire personnel to a UTV crash on BLM Road 16-7-30, near Triangle Lake, located about 25 miles west of Junction City. Fire personnel confirmed that the male passenger was deceased at the scene.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Team initiated an investigation, revealing that the UTV had rolled, fatally injuring the passenger, who was possibly seat-belted but not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Deputies also noted signs of impairment in the driver, identified as Walter Frederick Rogers, 49, of Gresham. Following further investigation, Rogers was arrested for DUI and lodged at the Lane County Jail.
Arson suspected in fire
On Oct. 19 at approximately 3 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a mobile home fire in the 34800 block of Shoreview Drive, east of Cottage Grove. Firefighters found the home unoccupied and learned that resident Leia Kimberly Shaw, 38, had left in a vehicle just before the fire started. While searching for Shaw, deputies were alerted to a vehicle fire at Bake Stewart Park, near Row River Road milepost 11, where they located her shortly after. Following an investigation by the Fire Marshal and deputies, Shaw was arrested and booked at the Lane County Jail on two counts of first-degree arson.
Police warn of phone scams
- The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will never ask for money by phone, text, or email.
- Reports indicate scammers posing as deputies claim victims have missed jury duty and face arrest unless they pay, often requesting payment via Bitcoin.
- Scammers may use real deputy names and have victims’ personal information.
- If contacted by someone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office and you suspect a scam, hang up and call dispatch at 541-682-4141
