CHILD DEAD-MOTHER CHARGED
Oregon mom indicted on additional charges after son’s death
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon woman charged in the strangulation death of her 12-year-old son has been indicted on additional charges of murder by abuse and criminal mistreatment for the alleged abuse of another child.
The Statesman Journal reported 38-year-old Amy Marie Robertson was charged with aggravated murder last week.
A Marion County grand jury indicted Robertson on the new charges Monday.
The indictment alleges Robertson committed murder by abuse when she caused the death of Caden Berry on Jan. 13. It also says she knowingly caused physical injury to her 14-year-old son on two occasions from 2015 to 2016.
The grand jury heard testimony from Robertson’s surviving son, police, neighbors of the family and a medical examiner.
Robertson was arrested after her youngest son was found unresponsive under a blanket at her Keizer home.
An autopsy revealed he was strangled.
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FOREST GROVE-SANCTUARY CITY
Oregon town fails to pass sanctuary city measure
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Officials in the northwestern Oregon city of Forest Grove have shot down a proposal that would have given the town sanctuary status.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the City Council had a tie vote Monday, which means the designation failed.
Dozens of municipalities have passed sanctuary measures, a symbolic action meant to show that the city’s residents will be treated equally regardless of citizenship status.
President Donald Trump has vowed to deport immigrants living in the country illegally and said he will withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities.
Some Forest Grove councilors said the town can’t risk losing the money, while others worried the designation alone wouldn’t be enough to protect residents.
Sanctuary cities in Oregon include Portland, Corvallis and Beaverton, which passed its sanctuary resolution earlier this month.
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OFFICER CLEARED-SHOOTING
Salem officer cleared in shooting, suspect indicted
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A grand jury has ruled that a Salem police officer was justified in shooting a man earlier this month.
The Statesman Journal reports the jury made the finding Tuesday in the incident involving 33-year-old Casey Howe.
Salem Cpl. Jacob Pratt responded to reports Jan. 13 of a possibly armed man and made contact with Howe outside an Applebee’s restaurant.
Police say Howe was armed with a knife and during a struggle, Pratt shot Howe. Howe remains hospitalized in stable condition.
The grand jury also indicted Howe in the incident on charges of attempted murder, attempted assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, illegal possession of a restricted weapon by a felon and menacing.
Pratt, who has served with the department for 10 years, was placed on standard administrative leave after the shooting.
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WOMEN’S MARCH-DIESEL SMOKE
Oregon man cited for blowing diesel smoke at marchers
(Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com)
COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon man has been accused of driving by a women’s march and intentionally blasting diesel fumes at demonstrators.
Coos Bay police Capt. Chris Chapanar tells The World newspaper that Steven Bishop of Lakeside was cited Monday for unlawful visible emissions after he confessed.
The women’s march in Coos Bay drew hundreds on Saturday. The night before, Bishop wrote on his Facebook page that there was supposed to be a riot, and “I hope all you diesel guys are ready to go blow black smoke.”
He posted a video of diesel smoke that included the caption: “What the rioters are going to get tomorrow.”
Reached by the newspaper, he initially denied being in town. Shown a photo of his truck at the march, he wrote that one of his buddies must’ve been driving it.
He later posted a photo of his $110 citation.
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FATAL FIRE-OREGON
Medical examiner identifies Oregon family found dead
HUBBARD, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon State Medical Examiner has identified five people found dead after a house fire earlier this month as a father, mother and their three children.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday detectives continue to investigate the case as a likely murder-suicide.
The five members of the Kroeker family were found dead Jan. 3 in a burned home near the western Oregon town of Hubbard.
Authorities say the children were shot to death; the woman died of blunt-force trauma to the head; and the man died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Records show the residence belonged to 39-year-old Erin Kroeker and 42-year-old Keith Kroeker. The couple had three children ranging in age from 7 to 10.
Authorities declined to provide more information due to the ongoing investigation.
COUGARS STALK COMMUNITY
Wildlife officials kill cougars that are preying on pets
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Cougars prowling through a community in Central Oregon have killed two pets and 12 chickens as a high snowpack makes it difficult for them to catch their usual prey.
Oregon wildlife officials said Tuesday they killed three of the predatory cats a day earlier in La Pine and are tracking at least one more.
Cougar tracks have been seen in several backyards and on decks in the community south of Bend. A dog and a cat have been killed.
A woman at the Corner Store in La Pine near the cougar incidents said over the phone that people are afraid.
State wildlife officials urged La Pine residents to not leave their pets outside unaccompanied.
SNOW-BUILDINGS COLLAPSE
Snow-covered buildings collapsing in rare US West weather
BOISE, Idaho (AP) – For buildings in parts of the snow-covered U.S. West, it has become a winter where the weak do not survive.
The accumulated weight of snow has crushed an old lumber mill in Oregon, the main grocery store in a small Idaho town, a sports complex in Alaska and a conference center in Colorado.
Experts say an unusual combination of greater snowfall at lower elevations and prolonged cold temperatures that allow the snow to accumulate is partly to blame.
Experts also say settling snow doesn’t look as substantial because it isn’t as deep, but it has high water density. That means a roof that doesn’t appear to be holding much snow can be straining under thousands of pounds.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGE
Man charged in human trafficking case involving teen
(Information from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, http://www.seattlepi.com/)
SEATTLE (AP) – A Seattle-area man is facing federal charges in connection with the human trafficking of a girl brought to Oregon to work in strip clubs.
Seattlepi.com reports federal prosecutors in Oregon say 19-year-old Kamajah Skannal took a runaway 17-year-old girl from Federal Way to Portland to work as a prostitute.
The girl came to the attention of authorities after her mother reported her missing.
Skannal was indicted on a human trafficking-related charge in October. Details of the charges against him weren’t made public until this month when court statements from an FBI agent were unsealed.
Investigators say Skannal drove her and other females to Portland to work as prostitutes, and provided the girl with a fake id in order to gain employment at a strip club.
Skannal was jailed until late last year but has been released on bond while his case proceeds.
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Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.