The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released its weekly incident log this week, covering activity from Oct. 12 through Oct. 18. The stretch included a serious assault arrest at a campsite near Haystack Reservoir, a vehicle pursuit on Highway 97 that ended without an arrest after spike strips failed to stop the fleeing driver, and ongoing warrant enforcement activity across the county.

Log items represent charges, not convictions.

Assault at Haystack Reservoir

On Oct. 14, JCSO deputies responded to a reported assault at a camp near Haystack Reservoir off Southwest King Lane. After investigation, Paul Ferguson, 56, of Culver, was arrested on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and third-degree criminal mischief. Ferguson was booked into the Jefferson County jail.

Highway 97 Pursuit Terminates

On Oct. 16, deputies located a theft suspect on Highway 97 near Fairgrounds Road and initiated a traffic stop. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was ultimately terminated after additional units failed to successfully disable the vehicle using spike strips. The case remains under investigation.

Vandalism at Madras High School

On Oct. 13, the JCSO deputy assigned as School Resource Officer for Jefferson County School District 509J was informed of vandalism at Madras High School. An investigation was conducted and a report was taken. Details about the nature or extent of the damage were not released.

Additional Incidents This Week

  • Oct. 12 — Culver: A deputy conducted a traffic stop; after further investigation, the vehicle was impounded.
  • Oct. 13 — Crooked River Ranch: Deputies responded to a report of multiple dogs at large. The owner was cited for dog at large and dog as a public nuisance.
  • Oct. 14 — Rainbow Market: Deputies took a theft report.
  • Oct. 14 — Madras: James D. Stedman III, 36, was arrested on an active felony warrant.
  • Oct. 14 — Madras: Shyla George, 47, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
  • Oct. 15: JCSO detectives assisted the Madras Police Department with an incident in Southeast Bend in response to a Major Incident Team callout.
  • Oct. 18 — Madras: Frank Felder, 68, was booked and medically released. Daniel Frost, 56, of Madras was arrested on an active felony warrant.

County-Wide Coverage

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office handles calls for service across a large and varied coverage area, from the rural ranchlands around Ashwood and Camp Sherman to the dense subdivision community of Crooked River Ranch. Recent monthly call totals for the department have run around 825 calls per month, with Crooked River Ranch accounting for roughly 100 of those calls — reflecting the size and demands of Jefferson County's largest unincorporated community.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is encouraged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at (541) 475-4704, or submit a tip anonymously through Oregon State Police.