News

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested a total of 63 people during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period of December 13, 2019 to January 2, 2020. The enhanced patrols are done in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Oregon State Sheriff's Association (OSSA).

In November 2018, detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were asked to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse involving a specific former faculty member at Catlin Gabel School. Detectives learned that the suspect had died earlier that year and concluded the investigation. At the time, investigators were not aware of allegations involving any other staff members.

On Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 5:05 p.m., deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a reported armed robbery in a parking lot near the Nike Company Store. Deputies arrived less than a minute later and found both parties still on scene in the 3400 block of SW Knowlton Road, near Beaverton.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) investigators executed a search warrant at 2944 NE Moda Way in Hillsboro and a second search warrant at 1218 SE Alder Street in Hillsboro. Both search warrants were the result of a single investigation.

On Sunday, December 29, 2019, just before 11 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a welfare check at NW Cedar Canyon Rd. and NW Killin Rd. near the community of Banks.  A passing driver told dispatch the driver of a blue 1991 Geo Prism was slumped over behind the wheel near that intersection.

On Sunday, December 29, 2019, at 1:16 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a stabbing at a house in the 300 block of SW Devonwood Avenue.  An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy called 911 and said they had been at the house when they were both stabbed and were on Highway 26 driving to the hospital.

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.

On Monday, November 11, 2019, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a two-car crash on SW Roy Rogers Rd, near SW Elsner Rd. The crash happened at approximately 7:25 p.m. just north of the City of Sherwood in unincorporated Washington County.

On Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 2:10 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a serious crash on Highway 8 at NW 334th Avenue. When deputies arrived, they discovered a 2002 Ford F350 collided with a 2004 Ford F150. Both vehicles had significant damage.

On Monday, November 4, 2019, the State Medical Examiners Office performed an autopsy on the body found in Cedar Mill Creek. The male was identified as 41-year-old Brian Fredrick Simons. The State Medical Examiner says the manner of death is “accidental.”

On Saturday, November 2, 2019, just after 9 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an assault call after a 66-year-old man showed up at an area hospital with injuries from a stabbing and an assault.