News

August 8, 2020, marks one year since the officer-involved shooting incident where two Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were shot and wounded at Henry Hagg Lake. During the incident, Corporal Jeremy Braun was severely injured after getting shot in the face, neck, and upper body.

On July 29, 2020, at 10:49 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in the area of SW Wakem Street and SW 178th Avenue in the community of Aloha. A man reported that he was attacked by another man over some soda cans he was collecting to recycle. The victim reported that he had been punched repeatedly and was knocked to the ground. The suspect took the cans from the victim’s car and then drove off in another car. He was described as a man in his 40s with a stocky build and a green t-shirt.

On Saturday, July 25, 2020, at 2:04 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on SW River Rd, South of SW Farmington Rd. A single vehicle had left the road and struck a tree.

Since June 20, 2020, four children have fallen out open second-story windows during three different incidents. Two of the children suffered critical injuries. In each of the events, only a screen was protecting the open window.

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 4:55 a.m. Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a possible explosion at the Willow Springs Apartments located at 3240 SW Doyle Place. Firefighters from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue and Sheriff's deputies went to the location and found a garage door had been severely damaged due to an explosion inside. The garage was not connected to any apartments. Firefighters identified the damage was due to an explosion. They cleared the scene as it was unknown if there were additional explosive devices.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 12:20 p.m., Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a burglary call located at an apartment complex near the 18200 block of NW Heritage Parkway. Deputies learned a nine-year-old girl was in her living room and noticed a man walking in the green space behind her apartment. The man saw the girl looking at him and began walking towards the back door of her apartment. He then walked in the unlocked sliding glass door and confronted the girl in her living room.

On Friday, July 3, 2020 at 11:35 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the city of Cornelius were dispatched to a report of a man with a gun in the 100 block of South Magnolia Avenue.

During the final week of June 2020, two serious incidents involving people in crisis were resolved peacefully by Sheriff’s Office deputies, saving the lives of two individuals in our community.

On Friday, June 26, 2020, the Washington County Medical Examiner identified the human remains found on Saturday, June 20th near North Plains as Allyson Watterson.

The Washington County District Attorney's Office presented additional evidence to a grand jury related to Deputy Rian Alden's use of force incident. The Grand Jury returned a charge of assault in the second degree (2 counts), unlawful use of a weapon, and official misconduct. As a reminder, evidence in the case cannot be released until the case is adjudicated.

In a little more than 24 hours over the weekend, deputies were called to three significant crashes, which led to two deaths and one juvenile being charged. In every crash, alcohol is suspected to be a factor, and the people in the vehicles were ejected.

The suspect in this case, 39-year-old Lisa Akers, was taken into custody early this morning in Grant County, Oregon.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 7:21 p.m, a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on patrol in the community of Aloha when she observed a male speeding in a white Ford F-150 in the area of SW Blanton Street and SW 170th Avenue. When the deputy attempted to stop the truck, the driver sped away and ran a red light. Deputies did not pursue for safety reasons. During the investigation, it was determined that the truck had been stolen earlier in the week during a burglary of an auto repair shop. A deputy recognized the driver of the stolen truck to be 26-year-old Ahmed Sadiq, of Aloha.

On Thursday, June 11, 2020, at 8:54 p.m., a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to reports of a suspected drunk driver near SW 184th Avenue and SW Blanton Street in the community of Aloha. After observing the driver swerving through the streets, nearly hitting a few parked cars along the side of the road, the deputy attempted to stop the car. The driver of a silver Toyota Corolla initially pulled over, but then decided to take off before contacting the deputy.

On June 11, 2020, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office email list was accessed by an unauthorized individual. This database of email addresses was used to send a fake version of our “WCSO News” email newsletter. The information contained in the fake email is inflammatory and does not further the conversation or help the frustration and concerns our community is feeling in regard to police brutality and race relations. We apologize for the unauthorized spam messages.

The Washington County Major Crimes Team has identified the deceased as Robert Anthony “Jordan” Whitehead, age 26.

On the afternoon of May 31, 2020, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received an allegation that a deputy sent an inappropriate email with racial epithets. While it appears the email is over 16 years old and four years before being employed at the Sheriff’s Office, it is entirely inconsistent with the core values and professional standards at the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office promptly opened an investigation by the Professional Standards Unit (PSU). The employee is on administrative leave pending PSU’s investigation.

We stand together as law enforcement professionals in the Portland Metropolitan Area to condemn the tactics and actions demonstrated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is our job to protect life and increase public safety within our communities.

Beginning Wednesday, May 27, 2020, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will conduct a three-day compliance assessment of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The team will measure the agency’s continued ability to meet public safety standards considered to be benchmarks of excellence nationwide. The Sheriff’s Office has been continuously nationally accredited by CALEA since 2004.