Oregon State Police - SAT 2:34pm

Oregon State Police: Disabled vehicle (commercial truck lost load of heavy equipment) blocking all lanes of Highway 101 about six miles north of Newport near milepost 135 - Traffic updates www.tripcheck.com .

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Oregon State Police - FRI 2:22pm

Oregon State Police: Injury Traffic Crash - Highway 203 near Union at approximately milepost 10 - Highway closed - No more info for release - Traffic updates www.tripcheck.com .

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Oregon State Police - WED 3:18pm

Oregon State Police: Non-injury crash involving a chip truck rollover has blocked northbound on ramp from Highway 213 to Interstate 205 - Some of the mulch load is spilling onto the on ramp - Unknown estimated time of closure - No more info for release - Traffic updates www.tripcheck.com .

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Gary Haugen Competency Hearing Set for September 27th

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office
GARY HAUGEN COMPETENCY HEARING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 27TH
Posted: September 21st, 2011 2:38 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47863/Psych_Evaluation_letter.pdf (Letter from Judge Guimond)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-09/1294/47863/Haugen_Public_Access_Order.pdf (Public Access order)
The mental competency hearing for death-row inmate Gary Haugen is scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th at 9:00am.

Judge Joseph Guimond will preside over the hearing in his courtroom on the first floor of the Marion County Courthouse, 100 High Street, Salem.

The public access order signed by Judge Guimond on May 12, 2001, remains in effect (copy attached).

KATU 2 has tentatively agreed to provide the video feed for access by all media.

In response the media inquiries requesting release of the psychiatric report filed by Dr. Richard Hulteng, Judge Guimond has issued the attached response.
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Oregon State Police - WED 8:00am

Oregon State Police: Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 238 south of Grants Pass near milepost 5 - Reported single vehicle off roadway - Emergency personnel on scene but traffic is getting through area - No more info for release until later today - Traffic updates www.tripcheck.com .

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Increase in burglaries in rural Polk County

News Release from: Polk Co. Sheriff's Office
INCREASE IN BURGLARIES IN RURAL POLK COUNTY
Posted: September 20th, 2011 4:43 PM

In the last few months, the Polk County Sheriff's Office has seen an increase in the number of reported residential burglaries. To better protect yourself from being a victim of a burglary, we want to point out some tips to make your home less attractive to a burglar. These tips include having good exterior lighting, locking all exterior doors and windows, and keeping valuable items out of sight. While on vacation, have someone pick up your newspapers and mail, so that they do not accumulate and alert burglars of your absence. Work together with your neighbors. Organize a Neighborhood Watch and let your neighbors know when you will be away for an extended period.

Keep jewelry and cash in safe places, such as safe deposit boxes. Make a list of your belongings (be sure to keep receipts, especially for expensive items like stereos, televisions, and computers). Be sure to update this list periodically, and include as much information as you can regarding each item such as brand, model number, serial number, and color, which might later assist investigators in recovering stolen items and apprehending suspects.

If you notice something that seems unusual, like a slow moving vehicle going up and down the street, please call the non emergency number for the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 503-623-9251. If you see what appears to be a crime in progress, call 911.

If you would like to be notified regarding current happenings within Polk County and the Sheriff's Office, please visit us at our Facebook page, Polk County Sheriff's Office. Once you are on the page, click the "Like" button and you will then automatically receive those updates, when posted.

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* UPDATE * - Cause of Death - Detectives Investigate Death of Salem Man

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office
* UPDATE * - CAUSE OF DEATH - DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE DEATH OF SALEM MAN
Posted: September 20th, 2011 3:58 PM

4:00pm

An autopsy was conducted on Mathew Araki at 1:00pm. According to the Dr. Karen Gunson State Medical Examiner, Mr. Araki died of coronary heart disease.

The District Attorney's will review the completed investigation to determine if any charges will be filed on anyone involved in the dispute.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

At approximately 4:52am, Marion County Deputies were called to the scene of a disturbance in the parking lot of the Brittany Crossing Apartments in NE Salem.

Sr. Deputy Jerry Wollenschlaeger arrived at 433 Brittany Way NE within minutes and found a 38-year old male lying unconscious on the sidewalk. Wollenschlaeger immediately requested medics be dispatched to the scene and began providing CPR. In spite of his efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He is identified as Mathew Araki. Araki's home address is not known; it is believed he was visiting friends at the apartment complex.

Marion County Detectives are being assisted by Detectives from the Keizer Police Department and the Oregon State Police. The preliminary investigation indicates that Araki was involved in some type of dispute with an acquaintance. Several witnesses are being questioned by detectives. No weapons were involved.

Representatives from the District Attorney's Office and the Medical Examiner's Office were at the scene to assist in the investigation.

An autopsy will be conducted on the victim to determine the cause and manner of his death. His family has been notified and is being assisted by their pastor. They are requesting privacy to deal with their emotions.

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Detectives Investigate Death of Salem Man

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office
DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE DEATH OF SALEM MAN
Posted: September 20th, 2011 12:58 PM

At approximately 4:52am, Marion County Deputies were called to the scene of a disturbance in the parking lot of the Brittany Crossing Apartments in NE Salem.

Sr. Deputy Jerry Wollenschlaeger arrived at 433 Brittany Way NE within minutes and found a 38-year old male lying unconscious on the sidewalk. Wollenschlaeger immediately requested medics be dispatched to the scene and began providing CPR. In spite of his efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He is identified as Mathew Araki. Araki's home address is not known; it is believed he was visiting friends at the apartment complex.

Marion County Detectives are being assisted by Detectives from the Keizer Police Department and the Oregon State Police. The preliminary investigation indicates that Araki was involved in some type of dispute with an acquaintance. Several witnesses are being questioned by detectives. No weapons were involved.

Representatives from the District Attorney's Office and the Medical Examiner's Office were at the scene to assist in the investigation.

An autopsy will be conducted on the victim to determine the cause and manner of his death. His family has been notified and is being assisted by their pastor. They are requesting privacy to deal with their emotions.

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Co-Conspirators sentenced in Polk County double homicide case

News Release from: Polk County Dist. Att. Office
CO-CONSPIRATORS SENTENCED IN POLK COUNTY DOUBLE HOMICIDE CASE
Posted: September 19th, 2011 4:16 PM

Today, Andrew Jondle, 21, was sentenced to a 50 year minimum life sentence and Cindy Lou Beck, 47, was sentenced to 20 years for their respective roles in the 2010 slaying of David Scott Jondle and Marilyn Ruth Jondle. The Jondle's were found dead on August 31, 2010 at their farm on Gilliam Road in unincorporated Polk County, Southwest of Dallas. The killings initially made national headlines, in large part due to the fact that Andrew Jondle used a reaping scythe as one of the murder weapons.

Today's sentencing proceedings were the result of pleas entered earlier this summer. Judge Eric Bergstrom, of Multnomah County handed down sentences during two separate hearings held today in the Polk County Courthouse. The out of county judge had been assigned to facilitate settlement conferences which ultimately led to the pleas.

Cindy Lou Beck, received a 20 year sentence for her role in the murders. Beck had already pleaded no contest to two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder on August 30, 2011, but the sentence was pronounced today. Polk County District Attorney, Stan Butterfield, said at the hearing that. Beck had conspired with Andrew Jondle to murder Jondle's parents, and also said that Beck had used a scam form of "psychic channeling" to manipulate Andrew Jondle into actually carrying out the murders.

Beck met Andrew Jondle at the beginning of July 2010 and shortly thereafter he moved into her Salem apartment. Within 60 days of living together, the two hatched a number of schemes for killing Andrew Jondle's parents. Beck was able to convince Andrew Jondle to kill his parents by pretending to receive messages from animal or tree spirits. Defense attorneys had Andrew Jondle tested during the course of the case and determined that Andrew Jondle was not mentally retarded or insane, but that he was of limited intelligence and very gullible. Andrew Jondle expressed in an interview with law enforcement officials earlier in the summer that he had killed his parents because the spirits through Beck had told him they needed to die so his parents wouldn't harm Beck's children. He further said the rent money that he stole and the possibility of inheriting proceeds from the sale of his parent's farm were, "…just an added bonus."

The two had come up with several plans that would have left the appearance of an accident. When it came time to actually put the plans into action, Andrew Jondle used their fall back plan. The back-up plan was to make the murders look like part of a home invasion burglary.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) had taken Beck's two children into custody several months before the murders. Beck appears to have been motivated solely by her need for money. She needed money to prevent an eviction from her apartment and to prove to the state that she had the means to properly care for her children.

Butterfield said he originally sought the death penalty for Andrew Jondle, but as the case unfolded, he reconsidered. "Andrew Jondle agreed to cooperate with the state in our case against Cindy Beck, if he hadn't I would not have agreed to the life sentences with the 50 year minimum." Butterfield said. Andrew Jondle pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated Murder and one count of robbery in July. Today the judge gave Jondle a sentence of life with a 50 year minimum. After 50 years he can ask the state for parole.

The murdered couples' other two sons, as well as Marilyn Jondle's brother, mother and step-father were present in the courtroom for the sentencing proceedings. In July and August the victim family members were consulted as part of plea negotiations between the state and the attorneys for the two defendants and were supportive of a settlement rather than going forward to trial.

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Seasonal Weather Prompts Safe Driving Reminder from the Marion County Sheriff's Office

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office
SEASONAL WEATHER PROMPTS SAFE DRIVING REMINDER FROM THE MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Posted: September 19th, 2011 9:55 AM

At approximately 8:00am, Marion County Deputies Peter Marcellais and Steven Duncan responded to a single-vehicle crash on Aumsville Highway, near Joseph Street SE in Salem. The crash conditions included light rain and wet roads.

A 1997 Mitsubishi was traveling westbound on Aumsville when it failed to negotiate the turn and skidded off into the ditch alongside the roadway. The driver was uninjured but his vehicle had to be towed from the scene. Fortunately, the damage to his car was relatively minor.

This crash provides us with an opportunity to remind all motorists that rain makes for slippery roads, especially when it has not rained in a long time. This is because greasy substances like lubricants and oil drip from cars as people drive, and these substances accumulate on the surface of the road until they are washed away. The first rain can loosen these greasy materials, creating an oily slick on the surface of the road which can make driving very dangerous. If you drive after rain, you need to be aware that this slick can interfere with your ability to drive, especially at high speeds.

While driving in the rain, you also have to contend with poor visibility. Driving slowly and staying focused will reduce accidents which may cause damages, injuries, or loss of life.

Drive safely and help us prevent crashes; report dangerous drivers to 911.

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