Date: 08/10/2016 06:20 AM
AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1237
RANCHING STANDOFF-BUNDY SCUFFLE
US wildlife refuge standoff defendant in tussle outside jail
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say Oregon standoff defendant Ryan Bundy was involved in an altercation with deputies when he refused to be handcuffed for transport outside of jail.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that U.S. marshals were scheduled to transport Bundy about 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Multnomah County jail spokesman Capt. Steve Alexander said Bundy didn’t want to leave the cell and argued with a sergeant who was trying to handcuff him. Alexander says when Bundy “spun around” the sergeant took him to the ground.
His supporters said on social media that Bundy sustained bruises. Alexander says Bundy was examined by medical staff, and no redness or anything like that was noted.
Bundy was taken to the originally-scheduled destination later in the day and then moved to disciplinary housing in the jail.
Ryan Bundy is the older brother of Ammon Bundy, the leader of the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon.
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OREGON KILLING
Oregon murder suspect declines to waive extradition
(Information from: KOIN-TV, http://www.koin.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A community college security guard charged with murder in Central Oregon has declined to waive extradition to Oregon.
KOIN-TV reports that Edwin Lara, who worked at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, appeared in court Tuesday and has another court hearing later this month in Yreka, California, where he is a suspect in a shooting and carjacking.
Authorities say he committed those crimes after killing 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer of Bend, Oregon.
Her body was dumped in a small canyon off a highway between the Central Oregon towns of Redmond and Sisters.
The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, kidnapping and other charges in California, where he remains jailed without bail.
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DOCTOR-SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Woman gets $1.4 million in Eugene sexual harassment case
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A Lane County jury has awarded a woman more than $1.4 million in a sexual harassment case against a Eugene neurosurgeon and his business.
The Register-Guard reports that the jury sided with Chere Bergstrom on Tuesday. An attorney representing the doctor, Glenn Keiper, says they plan to appeal.
Bergstrom had worked for Keiper as a surgical technologist from 2008 to 2015. During that time, she claims he sexually harassed her, made sexual advances toward her and touched her inappropriately.
Keiper’s attorney, Dennis Percell, says there was “a substantial error” in the case and that he’s confident they will win the appeal.
Court records show a woman who resigned from Keiper’s business, the Surgical Spine Center of Eugene, reported similar allegations in 2010.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY-FINANCIAL AUDIT
Douglas County struggles with reduced timber payments
(Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com)
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) – A statewide audit has identified Douglas County as one of four counties at higher risk of distress due to its financial situation.
The News-Review reports that the county was listed in the same group as Curry, Josephine and Polk counties in a review from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. The report, which is issued every two years, was released Tuesday.
The secretary of state has cited low property tax revenues and shrinking federal funds from timber receipts as the biggest contributors to Douglas County’s financial troubles.
The county has seen revenues drop from $29 million in 2006 to $25 million last year.
County Commissioner Susan Morgan has called on the federal government to do more to help rural economies that rely on timber.
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ELECTIONS DIRECTOR
Elections director resigned amid workplace investigation
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Records show that Oregon’s top elections officer was facing two investigations into inappropriate comments about female employees before his abrupt July resignation.
Documents obtained by The Oregonian through a public records request show that the latest investigation was completed just a week before the Secretary of State’s office announced the resignation of Elections Division Director Jim Williams on July 20.
The documents say a temporary employee complained that she was fired earlier because she declined Williams’ invitation to go out for drinks. The employee also described Williams making inappropriate remarks about other female workers.
Williams could not be reached for comment Monday. He denied the allegations to staff at the Secretary of State’s office, but texted the deputy secretary on July 18 saying he was ready to resign.
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POLICE WATCHER ARRESTED
Portland police arrest armed man who watched them for months
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say a 39-year-old man was arrested after officers who noticed him monitoring a Portland police precinct found weapons and ammunition in his vehicle.
Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson says Eric Crowl was arrested Sunday on charges of attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm
According to Simpson, Crowl had been watching and filming officers at the precinct since April and considers himself a “Constitutionalist.”
On Sunday afternoon, an East Precinct sergeant asked an on-duty officer to speak with Crowl. The man who has a police scanner quickly drove away, but returned later to continue conducting surveillance.
Officers went to vehicle and arrested Crowl after finding a rifle, a shotgun, two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Court records do not list an attorney for the Portland man.
Public records show he has previously lived in Manhattan, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.
KLAMATH HOMICIDE
Klamath County teen charged in second death
(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) – A Klamath County man awaiting trial on a murder charge has now been accused in a second death.
The Herald and News reports 18-year-old Seth Cunningham was arraigned Monday on a charge of murder for the Nov. 13, 2014, shooting of a 39-year-old man. He pleaded not guilty.
Cunningham was already in custody as he awaits trial for the Dec. 29, 2015, killing of Aaron Dillon Andrews.
The 21-year-old was shot multiple times in the chest and witnesses identified Cunningham as the suspect.
Cunningham was captured later that day and allegedly admitted to shooting Andrews when interviewed by police. He is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 5 on charges of murder, unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence.
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OFFICER SHOOTING-THE LATEST
The Latest: Police ID gunman shot south of Portland
GLADSTONE, Ore. (AP) – Authorities have identified the man accused of shooting a suburban Portland police officer and taking a woman hostage as Jeffrey Carl Giddings.
The hostage and Gladstone police Sgt. Lee Jundt, who was wearing a protective vest, are OK.
Gladstone police say the 45-year-old man was wanted in Klamath County for heroin possession when an officer tried to stop him Monday for a bicycle violation.
The suspect fled but was later found by Jundt. Officials say Giddings pulled a gun and shot Jundt in his protective vest. Giddings then entered a Subway restaurant and took a woman hostage.
After negotiations failed, members of a SWAT team shot Giddings and freed the woman.
Giddings survived and will be booked into the Clackamas County Jail after he’s released from the hospital.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
