Oregon
Nearly 18,000 young salmon died after a vandal poured bleach into a Douglas County fish hatchery tank, officials said
Eugene, OR – According to the state officials, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested 20-year-old Joshua Heckathorn and lodged him at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Burglary II, Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief.
According to an agency news release, on Apr. 23, a DCSO patrol deputy saw Heckathorn walking south along Highway 101, then encountered him again that evening behind a locked gate in the hatchery facility.
Heckathorn admitted to trespassing on the property, entering a storage location, and handling the chemical bottle on Monday.
In a cooperative law enforcement effort, DCSO and Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division will collaborate efforts to address both vandalism on the property and a significant poaching incident, according to OSP F&W Sergeant Levi Harris.
Poaching charges will include Unlawful Taking Chinook Salmon for 17,890 fish, which raised the charge to a Class C felony.
Courts have the authority to multiply that amount by the number of fish taken, with a judgement in this case potentially raising the amount to over $13 million, according to Sergeant Harris.
-
Crime & Safety1 week agoMan told poIice he eventuaIIy stopped chasing his 82-year-old parent and feIt guiIty after using piIIows and a Iarge skiIIet to try to kiII the woman when she Iay down to rest because she had neuroIogicaI issues and required constant assistance: DA
-
Crime & Safety1 week ago
Woman pIaced her daughter’s newborn in a cooIer after a faiIed CPR attempt to revive the chiId shortly after she and her spouse Iured the expectant mom, then forced her to Iie on the ground, stabed her and forcibIy extracted the baby while she Iay on the ground, kiIIing both: DA
-
Crime & Safety3 days agoDad who cIaims he took his 1-year-old to be with him when he noticed the chiId was awake, after consuming iIIegal substances and a night of heavy drinking, only to then faII asIeep with the toddIer in a ttub and find her Iimp when he woke up, later pronounced dead, is charged
-
Eugene6 days agoEugene police make multiple arrests during retail theft operation
-
Eugene6 days agoEugene and Lane County address reduced state shelter funding for FY26
-
Eugene6 days agoESF crews respond to early morning house fire on Riviera Court
-
Crime & Safety1 day agoDad removed his 8-month-old chiId from his vehicIe ‘because he didn’t want to be responsible’ after the baby’s mom decided to end the aItercation with him by getting out, before getting back behind the wheeI and causing his vehicIe’s tire to roII over the infant, who suffered fataI injuries: DA
-
Eugene27 minutes agoCity begins removal of flock safety cameras following contract termination
