St. Helens Police News Briefs

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS PERSON?

July 15, 2019

On the morning of July 10, 2019, an unidentified male suspect stole money from multiple washing machines in different laundry rooms at Woodland Trail Apartments, 345 N 16th Street. The suspect used some type of prying device to break into one of the laundry rooms, damaging a door.

If you have any information about this individual, please contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-1521.

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ST. HELENS TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ARREST FOR POSSESSION OF DRUGS, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM

April 7, 2019

On Sunday, April 7, at approximately 10:50 a.m., a St. Helens officer made a traffic stop for a suspended license on Pittsburg Road. As the officer stopped, the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene. The officer was able to apprehend the suspect and called for back up. 

A K-9 unit from the Columbia County Sheriffs' Office assisted in the response. A search of the vehicle found several items of drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and a 9mm pistol. 

The suspect was subsequently charged with Attempt to Elude (on foot), Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. He was also cited for Driving while suspended, driving uninsured, and failure to register a vehicle.

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ST. HELENS TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO 7.5 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA FOUND IN VEHICLE

February 8, 2019

On Monday, February 4 at approximately 7 a.m., St. Helens officers seized 7.5 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop. During the stop, Officer Gaston noticed an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The driver initially told Officer Gaston that the smell was so strong because the driver had just smoked marijuana and had a little bit for personal use. During the stop, however, officers discovered a large tub filled with 7.5 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle. Ultimately, the driver was cited for driving while suspended and uninsured, and his vehicle was impounded. This case is still under investigation and has been referred to the City Attorney’s Office.

For the record, 7.5 pounds is 120 ounces. 120 ounces is over 100 times the legal limit of usable marijuana that you are allowed to have in your possession in a public place. Oregon law allows you to have one ounce of usable marijuana in a public place and eight total ounces of usable marijuana in your possession in your private home. Curious about other recreational marijuana FAQs? Check out the OLCC’s FAQ page on personal use: https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/pages/faqs-personal-use.aspx

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HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS: THEFT PREVENTION

November 30, 2018

TIP #1 Ship with care. Doorstep package theft is everywhere. Have your packages delivered to a lock box or your work if you are able to do so. If you have a trusted neighbor that is at home during your work hours, ask them to grab your package for you if they see it delivered and store it at their house so you can pick it up when you get home. If you can add delivery instructions to the shipping information, ask the delivery person to tuck your package in a less visible spot.

TIP #2 Think twice before posting that pic or status update. Thieves now rely heavily on social media to find out if you’re traveling for the holidays and if your home is unoccupied. And that beautiful picture you posted of your tree with all the Christmas presents under it is oh-so festive, but it can also be an open advertisement to thieves.

TIP #3 Keep gifts out of sight. When shopping, keep packages, shopping bags, and other valuables hidden from view if you are storing them in your vehicle. At home, presents should be tucked out of sight of windows.

TIP #4 Garbage and recycling bins are a wealth of information. New big screen tv? Got the latest gaming system for half off? Great, but just remember that when you throw away or recycle the packaging, thieves can easily go through your garbage to see if anything tempting might be inside your home. 

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POLICE MAKE ARRESTS IN LOCAL BUSINESS THEFT

October 11, 2018

St. Helens officers recently arrested the third and final individual involved in the theft of approximately $8,800 worth of equipment from Inexpensive Tree Care’s storage lot this summer. Three individuals broke into three work trucks at the business and stole a variety of equipment, including chainsaws, a leaf blower, and climbing gear.

This investigation was successful thanks to an observant individual who shared a tip with our officers. If you see something suspicious, you can report the activity to non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521.

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POLICE SEEK INFORMATION IN HARASSMENT INCIDENT

October 6, 2018

At approximately 3:21 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, St. Helens police officers responded to a report of racial harassment which occurred at the intersection of St. Helens Street and North 18th Street in St. Helens.

A woman reported that her 12-year-old daughter was walking near the intersection of St. Helens Street and North 18th Street when two or three unidentified males drove by in a small gray or green pickup truck. One of the men threw a soda can at the 12-year-old while yelling racial slurs.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information about this case or the identity of the suspects is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521 and ask to speak with St. Helens Officer Seann Luedke.

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COUNTERFEIT TRAINING MONEY IN ST. HELENS

August 9, 2018

Know your U.S. money.  

We have recently received reports of counterfeit Chinese “training money” found in St. Helens. The fake currency, which looks similar to legal U.S. currency at a glance, is used by tellers in China to practice counting U.S. money.

There have been many reports of these fake bills circulating in the Pacific Northwest over the past few years.

The counterfeit money has distinct characteristics that you can look for. Pink Chinese characters are usually stamped on the front and back of the bills. Two dashed black lines can usually be found running parallel to each other along the upper right-hand corner of the front of the bill and on the upper left-hand corner of the back of the bill.

Learn more about the security features to look for on U.S. currency at https://www.uscurrency.gov/denominations/100

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MEMORIAL DAY CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN

June 1, 2018

From May 14 to May 27, you may have noticed that St. Helens Police Department participated in a high-visibility seat belt enforcement campaign. The hallmarks of the national Click It or Ticket crackdown are ramped-up enforcement—meaning zero tolerance for unbuckled vehicle occupants—and effective communication to all road users about the importance of seat belts.

“We believe we saved lives,” said Sgt. Jose Castilleja. “We know for a fact that seat belts save lives in motor vehicle crashes, and I think we got people’s attention by cracking down.”  St. Helens police officers made three felony arrests, two DUII arrests, and wrote six Driving While Suspended citations during the campaign.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the 21,022 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2014 were unrestrained. During this year’s campaign, NHTSA urged law enforcement nationwide to issue seat belt citations to anyone caught in violation of the law—during the day, but especially at night, when 57 percent of those killed are unrestrained. By adding patrols at night, and training officers on specific techniques to catch nighttime violators, the campaign—and the nighttime focus—was a “success,” according to Sgt. Castilleja.

The national seat belt use rate is currently at 87 percent, according to NHTSA. The Click It or Ticket campaign is for the 27.5 million people who make up the remaining 13 percent. Thousands more lives could be saved each year if every person was properly restrained on the road.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

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ST. HELENS COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) 2018 GRADUATION

May 10, 2018

Congratulations to the newest members of the St. Helens Community Emergency Response Team! The 2018 class just completed six weeks of disaster training courses. Graduation night was Thursday, May 10 and included an opportunity for the participants to put their classroom training to the test through simulated disaster scenarios.

Thanks to all the volunteers, previous CERT graduates, Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Columbia County Emergency Management, and other supporters for helping make these practice scenarios possible.

Since 2005, the St. Helens Police Department and Columbia River Fire & Rescue have worked together to hold annual C.E.R.T. trainings for interested community members. In the classes, participants learn about disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue operations, and disaster psychology and team organization.

In the event of a disaster, C.E.R.T. graduates who voluntarily agree to be called upon can be used to help assist the St. Helens Police Department and Columbia River Fire & Rescue in response efforts. C.E.R.T. volunteers also assist the Police Department each year with traffic control for events such as 4th of July and Hood to Coast, help with first aid at the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo, and continue to participate in emergency response classes and training at different locations around the region.

The St. Helens C.E.R.T. program is offered each year in the spring. The program is free and open to all citizens. A handful of high school students usually participate in the program along with adults. You can apply to the program at http://columbiacountycitizencorps.org/site/category/forms/.

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ST. HELENS POLICE PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN

May 10, 2018

In 2016, there were three passenger vehicle occupant fatalities reported in Columbia County. In all three accidents, no safety restraints were used (ODOT crash analysis & reporting unit data).

The St. Helens Police Department will be participating in the National Click It or Ticket Campaign beginning Monday, May 14th and extending through Sunday, May 27th. The federally funded overtime enables the St. Helens Police Department to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws, including the newly passed law increasing safety for children under two.

Motor vehicle crashes continue to lead the nation as the cause of death for children aged one through twelve. In 2016, there were 1,582 children under age nine injured in Oregon traffic crashes with five of those children dying.

“Even one is too many,” said Sgt. José Castilleja. The latest estimates show car seats increase crash survival by 71 percent. 

A new Oregon law for children under age two requires they use a child seat with harness in a rear-facing position, unless the child turned one year of age prior to May 26, 2017. A child over age two or who turned one year of age prior to May 26, 2017, must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.

The new law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. Research has shown that children in the second year of life are five times less likely to die or be seriously injured in a crash if they ride rear-facing. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.

“Our officers will be vigilant for adults not properly wearing safety belts and children not placed in appropriate safety seats or boosters. Buckling up takes only a few seconds and can spare a lifetime of grief. Please buckle up!” said Sgt. Castilleja.

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ST. HELENS POLICE SEEK ASSISTANCE IDENTIFYING SUSPECT IN WALMART THEFT

May 9, 2018

At approximately 3:23 p.m. on Friday, May 4, St. Helens police officers responded to a report of a cell phone theft at the St. Helens Walmart at 2295 Gable Road.

A contract Walmart employee reported that their black Apple iPhone 6 Plus was stolen from a shelf inside a checkout stand. Surveillance footage shows an unidentified older, white male leaving the store with the stolen phone after purchasing his groceries. The suspect left the parking lot in a dark-colored pickup truck with a canopy.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information about the identity of the suspect is asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521 and ask to speak with St. Helens Officer Welter.

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CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING

April 24, 2018

This week, officers and security personnel from multiple Oregon counties are participating in Crisis Intervention Training in St. Helens. This is the eighth time that CIT training has been held in St. Helens, in part,  thanks to a state grant awarded to the St. Helens Police Department in 2015.

St. Helens represents one of only 11 counties across Oregon that offers this training.

Organized with the assistance of multiple agencies, the week-long training is designed to teach law enforcement officers how to respond to situations where an individual may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

The 40 hours of intensive training gives officers the opportunity to learn from mental health professionals, hear from people who have experienced and recovered from a mental health crisis, learn verbal de-escalation skills, and practice their new skills in scenario-based exercises.

This week’s training includes members of the St. Helens Police Department, Rainier Police Department, Columbia County Parole and Probation, Portland State University Public Safety and Portland Community College Public Safety.

Learn more about the CIT program here: http://www.ocbhji.org/training/cit/

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ST. HELENS POLICE SEEK ADDITIONAL VICTIMS IN GRAFFITI CASE

April 23, 2018

The St. Helens Police Department has identified a 22-year-old male suspect in a multi-victim graffiti case. A number of criminal mischief cases have already been linked to the suspect, but St. Helens police believe that there are more cases which have never been reported.

The suspect is believed to have “tagged” many locations in St. Helens over the last several years and has a distinctive tag style. The suspect writes the word “PORK” and “PORCUS,” as well as “GESS,” “P.S.V.,” “C.M.S.,” or “CMS.” A permanent marker (Sharpie) pen is usually used, but there have been instances when the suspect has used spray paint or regular markers. The suspect also places U.S. Mail stickers with his tag on street signs and other random locations.

The St. Helens Police Department believes that there may be more victims. If you think that you are a victim, please call non-emergency dispatch at 503-397-1521 and ask to speak with St. Helens Officers Gaston, Coy, or Boswell. Please have any photos of the graffiti available, along with an estimate of the damages and/or cost of the cleanup.