Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

 

BARTENDER-TAINTED DRINKS

Bartender accused of tampering with women’s drinks

(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A bartender who works near the University of Oregon is under investigation for allegations that he tampered with multiple women’s drinks.

The Register-Guard reports that newly released court documents show police, the university and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission are involved in the investigation.

A search warrant affidavit says four of the five alleged incidents happened at Taylor’s Bar & Grill, where the employee worked. The other incident took place at another bar where he was a patron.

The women reported being given “cloudy” drinks and having no memory of what happened to them after drinking. One woman woke up in the hospital after falling in a parking lot on her way home.

Taylor’s Bar & Grill owner Charles Hare says the employee has been placed on leave.

___

PROSTITUTION SCAM-ARREST

Woodburn suspect accused of forcing woman into prostitution

(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a Woodburn man in connection with a prostitution scam.

The Statesman Journal reports that Jose Manuel Maldonado is facing several charges, including robbery, compelling prostitution and unlawful use of a weapon.

The suspect is accused of threatening a female friend into pretending to be a prostitute so he could rob the man who agreed to have sex with her.

Court documents say when the arranged meeting took place on Oct. 19, Maldonado pulled a knife on the man and robbed him of more than $1,000.

It’s not clear if the unidentified man who agreed to meet with the woman for sexual favors will face charges.

Maldonado is scheduled to enter a plea in the case next week.

___

GUN LAWSUIT

Killer’s mother assisting in lawsuit against 2 gun dealers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The family of a California woman fatally shot by an Oregon man in 2013 has reached a settlement with the killer’s mother, who had purchased firearms for her mentally ill son.

Kirsten Englund was shot by 30-year-old Jeffrey Boyce as she admired a scenic view on the Oregon coast in April 2013. Attorneys for Englund’s family say Boyce used one of three guns that had been purchased for him by his mother.

Earlier this year Englund’s family filed a lawsuit against two gun dealers and against Boyce’s mother, Diane, saying that the gun sales were illegal straw purchases.

Attorneys for the Englund family on Thursday said Diane Boyce has agreed to pay them $400,000 and is also providing documents to assist in the lawsuit. Diane Boyce’s attorney did not immediately return a phone call.

FATAL SHOOTING

Detectives believe Portland deaths were a murder-suicide

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police detectives believe a homicide at a Portland office building is connected to a suicide that happened a mile away.

Sgt. Pete Simpson says 51-year-old Jimmy Morgan of Gresham shot himself as police approached his car Saturday in northeast Portland. The officers were responding to a report of a man with a gun sitting in a vehicle.

Hours later, police found 36-year-old Mitra Mehrabadi dead in the offices of Liberty Mutual insurance in northeast Portland. An autopsy determined she had been shot multiple times.

The Oregon State Police crime lab has confirmed that the gun recovered from the suicide was the same one used in the homicide.

Police believe Morgan killed Mehrabadi and then took his own life. The two were co-workers at the insurance company and knew each other.

RANCHING STANDOFF-THE LATEST

The Latest: Environmentalist decries Oregon standoff verdict

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An environmentalist says the acquittal of the leaders of an armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge will embolden extremists.

Ammon Bundy and six others were found not guilty Thursday of conspiracy and possession of firearms at the Oregon federal facility.

Kieran Suckling, executive director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the verdict was disturbing for people who care about public lands, the rights of native people and “a political system that refuses to be bullied by violence and racism.”

Suckling said Bundy and his followers were radicals who want to take over public lands.

DEPUTY SHOT-SENTENCE

Klamath Falls man sentenced to 30 years for shooting deputy

(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — A Klamath Falls man convicted in the 2014 shooting of a sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The Herald and News reports 31-year-old William Parkerson made no statement in court Wednesday.

Parkerson shot Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Weber in the face during a traffic stop. He was arrested after a nearly 18-hour manhunt, and a jury found him guilty of attempted murder and assault.

Psychiatrists testified that Parkerson exhibited symptoms of anti-social personality disorder including aggression, deceitfulness and a lack of remorse.

Weber resigned from the sheriff’s office in January to accept a position with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. He asked Judge David Hoppe to impose the 30-year maximum.

___

ACCIDENTAL CAR THEFT

Accidental thief returns car with apology, gas money

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland, Oregon, woman says her red Subaru was stolen from her driveway — and then it reappeared with an apology note and gas money.

Erin Hatzi tells The Oregonian/OregonLive that her husband noticed the car was missing on Tuesday night and she posted security camera stills on Facebook, asking for help finding it.

Police caught a woman returning the vehicle to Hatzi’s driveway Wednesday evening. The accidental thief had instructions from a friend to pick up a different red Subaru in Hatzi’s neighborhood and returned when the friend said it wasn’t her car. She brought along $30 for gas and a note expressing apologies.

Police told Hatzi that some older Subaru keys are interchangeable, making it easy for the woman to make off with the wrong car.

___

TRUMP PLATE

Tualatin resident harassed over ‘TRUMP’ license plate

(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)

TUALATIN, Ore. (AP) — A Tualatin couple has been getting a lot of attention from other drivers over their cars’ license plates.

KATU-TV reports that Brian Trump has been sporting a “TRUMP” vanity for nine years but in the past 18 months his car has attracted both supporters and detractors of the Republican presidential nominee of the same name. Trump’s wife’s vehicle has the plate “KTRUMP.”

Brian Trump says he never expected celebrity and businessman Donald Trump to run for president when he first ordered the plates. Now he has had other drivers make rude comments and hand gestures as they assume he supports the Republican nominee.

Trump says he doesn’t plan to change his plates, but instead has ordered a vinyl window graphic that will alert other drivers that Trump is his last name.

___

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.