PORTLAND POLICE SHOOTING
Portland officer says he warned teen not to reach for waist
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland police officer who fatally shot a 17-year-old boy last month testified that he warned the teen several times to keep his hands away from his waist.
According to transcripts released Monday, Officer Andrew Hearst told a Multnomah County grand jury he believe Quanice Hayes’s hand movements were intentional and deliberate.
The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports that Hearst testified he didn’t see Hayes with a gun in his hand when he fired his rifle but said he couldn’t wait until he was sure it was there.
The teen’s mother demanded a Department of Justice investigation last week after the jury declined to indict Hearst on criminal charges in the Feb. 9 shooting.
Portland police have said Hayes used a replica gun to rob a man of his state food benefits card and was trying to break into a car.
Hayes was shot twice in the torso and once in the head. Toxicology results showed numerous drugs in Hayes’ blood.
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IMMIGRATION ARREST-SEATTLE
Judge won’t release Mexican man jailed near Seattle
SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge has affirmed an earlier decision not to release a Mexican man who was arrested near Seattle despite his participation in a program meant to protect those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez says “many questions remain regarding the appropriateness of the government’s conduct” in arresting 24-year-old Daniel Ramirez Medina, but that because of the way the case has developed he’s not entitled to be immediately released from custody.
Immigration agents arrested Ramirez Feb. 10 and said he admitted to affiliating with gangs, something he adamantly denies. He has no criminal record and twice passed background checks to participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
In an order Friday, the judge upheld a decision by a magistrate judge not to release him.
HEALTH OVERHAUL-BIRTH CONTROL
Some state lawmakers seek to protect birth-control access
CARSON CITY, Nevada (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in some states are pressing ahead with efforts to protect birth control access, Planned Parenthood funding and abortion coverage in case they are jeopardized in the future.
Republican leaders in Congress withdrew a bill last week that would have repealed former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, halted Planned Parenthood’s federal funding and curtailed the ability of many low-income women to obtain affordable birth control.
Despite that setback for the GOP, some Republicans say Congress might revisit health care. At the same time, anti-abortion leaders say they will not abandon their campaign to defund Planned Parenthood.
The uncertainty has prompted decisions to press ahead with bills in Nevada, Oregon and Maryland that would protect against some proposed GOP actions.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE-GENDER DISCRIMINATION
Oregon sheriff’s office investigated over employee complaint
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — The state has opened a new investigation into gender discrimination complaints against the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bend Bulletin reported Monday that Deputy Jennifer Gaspard filed a complaint with the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries alleging she and other women have repeatedly been passed up for promotions despite being qualified for the positions.
Gaspard’s March 3 complaint is the bureau’s third open investigation into the sheriff’s office. The other gender discrimination and harassment complaints were filed in October.
In addition to being passed up for promotions, Gaspard’s filing also alleges she was discouraged from using a breast pump at work upon returning from maternity leave.
An attorney for the sheriff’s office declined to discuss the complaint but said he will review the claims.
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TIMBER SALE-UMPQUA FOREST
Southern Oregon timber sale halted for environmental study
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A judge has sided with two environmental groups in a ruling that halts a timber sale in southern Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest.
The Statesman Journal reported Monday that Judge Jolie Russo ruled that the forest must conduct a more comprehensive study of environmental impacts caused by the proposed logging project near Crater Lake National Park.
The timber sale calls for 1,400 acres of commercial thinning and construction of nearly 6 miles of temporary roads near popular recreation sites.
Russo’s ruling last week marks the second time the project has been delayed in court.
Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild brought the lawsuit against the timber sale, which was first halted in 2014.
Lawson Fite, with the American Forest Resource Council, disagreed with the ruling, saying the project will have “negligible or beneficial” environmental impacts.
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FREEZER BODY-FUGITIVE ARRESTED
Suspect in killing waives extradition to Jackson County
(Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com)
LATIMER, Miss. (AP) — Capital murder suspect Thomas Elliott Stafford has waived extradition to Jackson County, where he faces prosecution in the killing of a man found dead in a freezer.
The Sun Herald reports that 40-year-old Stafford, found in Portland, Oregon, is accused of strangling 65-year-old Jerry Floyd Kirkendall Sr. in Latimer on March 3. Kirkendall’s body was found in a freezer and his stolen Cadillac was found in Alabama.
Federal marshals arrested Stafford on Saturday.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell says Stafford agreed to be returned to Jackson County in a Monday hearing in Portland. However, Stafford won’t return immediately. He has a probation hearing Thursday in Portland.
Ezell says Stafford was serving 12 months on probation for a meth possession conviction and arrest in Portland in September.
It’s unclear if Stafford has an attorney.
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SEASIDE POLICE SHOOTING
Man linked to gun in officer’s killing sentenced to 12 years
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A felon whose pistol was used in the February 2016 slaying of a Seaside police sergeant has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
Jamie Lee Jones had previously pleaded guilty to charges that he possessed methamphetamine with intent to sell and had a firearm while selling heroin.
Investigators say Phillip Ferry stole a gun from Jones and used it to kill Sgt. Jason Goodding. The sergeant’s fellow officer returned fire, killing Ferry.
Jones apologized Monday, telling U.S. District Judge Michael Simon that his heart goes out to Goodding’s family. He says the use of his gun to kill a police officer is a nightmare that haunts him every day.
BEACH FATAL-GIRL
Police release the name of 14-year-old girl killed by log
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
BANDON, Ore. (AP) — Oregon police has released the name of the girl who died after a waterlogged log rolled on top of her.
The Eugene Register-Guard reports that 14-year-old Aurora Sheffel was standing on top of the log with friends at the South Jetty Park Beach on Saturday. Shaffel was the last one standing on the log when it shifted in the surf and rolled.
Shaffel was the daughter of Cora and David Wederquist of Eugene. Her parents say the straight A student that was at the beach celebrating spring break and her recent selection into North Eugene High School’s cheerleading team.
Shaffel’s relatives have set up a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses.
Eugene School District spokeswoman says the high school will provide support for the students when they return to class.
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