Eugene Police respond to nearly 110 fireworks-related calls during busy Fourth of July weekend

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department responded to nearly 110 fireworks-related calls over the Fourth of July holiday as officers also handled several major incidents, including a fatal crash, an armed suspect, a hit-and-run and a suspected DUI rollover crash.

According to the department, a dedicated fireworks enforcement team was assigned to address complaints on July 3 and July 4. Police said the combination of warm weather, holiday celebrations and several large community events made it one of the busiest periods of the year.

In addition to fireworks complaints, officers provided coverage during the 52nd annual OTC Butte to Butte race, the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field and the Eugene Pro Rodeo.

On July 3, the department received 21 fireworks-related calls, including 18 involving illegal fireworks. Six met the threshold for dispatch, while the remaining calls did not require an officer response. Five dispatched calls were cleared after officers were unable to locate the reported activity, and one resulted in officers advising a family with small children. No citations were issued and no fireworks were seized.

Police also responded to a reported brush fire that firefighters determined did not exist, a shots-fired call that turned out to be fireworks and a report of people throwing fireworks from a vehicle.

Activity increased significantly on July 4, when the communications center received 89 illegal fireworks calls. Of those, 35 met dispatch criteria, but officers were only able to respond to 21 because of other high-priority emergencies. The remaining 14 calls could not be answered at the time. Police said no citations were issued and no fireworks were confiscated, although officers warned individuals they contacted.

The department also responded to several major incidents throughout the holiday.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on July 4, officers and Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a collision involving a motorcycle and another vehicle at Royal Avenue and Legacy Drive. The motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries and later died at a local hospital. The Eugene Police Major Collision Investigation team is investigating the fatal crash.

Just before 2 a.m. on July 5, a 46-year-old man reported being assaulted by five or six younger males behind a business on East 11th Avenue. The suspects allegedly stole the man’s phone and shoes before fleeing. A police K-9 team searched the area but did not locate the suspects.

Later that night, officers arrested 28-year-old Jason Jess Garcia after responding to reports of security staff struggling with an armed man at City Nights on West Broadway. Police said Garcia attempted to flee before officers and a security guard took him into custody. He was booked into the Lane County Jail on multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and escape.

Officers also investigated a hit-and-run crash involving a bicyclist at River Road and Springwood Drive. The 42-year-old bicyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver left the scene.

At approximately 11:08 p.m., police responded to a two-vehicle crash at 18th Avenue and Washington Street. Investigators said a Toyota Camry ran a stop sign and struck a Lexus SUV carrying a woman and her 8-year-old child, causing the SUV to roll onto its side. All occupants were transported to a hospital, and police said the Camry driver was determined to be intoxicated.

The Eugene Police Department praised officers for handling the high volume of calls and multiple complex incidents while maintaining public safety throughout the holiday weekend.