News

After five days of searching for Ms. Allyson Watterson, the search and rescue operations have been suspended.  Allyson has not been located at this time.  The decision to suspend that phase of the investigation was made after the search and rescue teams spent thousands of search hours covering an area of about 1,600 acres. 

On December 3, 2019, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies booked Michael William Hern, 42, on 26 sex crimes covering a span of more than two decades. Mr. Hern is from the Washington County area, but was last living in Cave Junction, OR. Detectives learned Mr. Hern abused at least seven girls, but due to the statute of limitations can only be charged with abusing six girls at this time.

Isabel Espinoza was located early this morning and is back with her family. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for their help.

On Tuesday December 4, 2019, at 9:31 a.m., a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a call near the 8500 block of SW Oleson Rd. regarding a male who was making gun gestures at passing vehicles. When the deputy arrived, he was confronted by 34-year-old Daniel Bean of Portland. Mr. Bean pointed a rifle at the deputy then retreated into his home.

In July and October 2019, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office conducted two child predator stings where investigators posed as children online. As part of those stings, deputies arrested 15 men. During those missions, investigators were chatting with dozens of people and several of those conversations continued over the following months.

On Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 6:14 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a disturbance in the 17600 block of SW Declaration Way in Aloha. Several people attending a party at the location reported that a woman armed herself with a handgun and robbed them of their cell phones.

On Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 5 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported assault with a weapon call in the 15600 block of NW Athens Drive in Bethany. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene to lead the investigation.

On Thursday, November 28, 2019, at 11:35 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report of a theft from vehicle in the 10300 block of SW Hollyridge Lane in the community of West Slope.

On Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 10:25 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to hit and run crash near the area of SW 198th Ave. and SW Kinnaman Road. Deputies found out a blue Toyota 4Runner, stolen out of Forest Grove earlier in the morning, had left the scene. Deputies responded to the area and saw the Toyota heading east on SW Farmington Road.