KNND

01/24/2025

01/24/2025

You read it here first! The first Monday of each month, starting February 3, chief Cory Chase, and other members of the Cottage Grove Police Department will be recurring guests on the Beeper show at 9 AM. it’s no secret that there’s a lot of new faces around the department these days, and we are gonna get to know some of them a little bit better. we will also be able to take an in-depth look at department operations as the rebuilding process continues.

01/03/2025

Sheriff Harrold and deputies respond to crashes, make several DUI arrests over the holidays

On December 25th, 2024, at 12:30 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a crash on N. Moss Street, Lowell. One of the drivers, Jesse Owen Clark, 54, had fled the scene before they arrived. Deputies located Clark nearby with the assistance of a patrol K9 and observed signs of impairment. After additional investigation, Clark was arrested for DUI, Hit & Run - Property Damage, and Reckless Driving.

On December 29th around 1 a.m., deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on Beacon Drive, with a vehicle in the water. Fire personnel assisted the driver, Iyanna Corrin Lee, 21, from the vehicle and advised deputies of possible impairment. Deputies contacted Lee and observed signs of impairment. After additional investigation, Lee was arrested for DUI.

On January 1st, 2025, at a few minutes past midnight, Sheriff Harrold observed a driver turn into oncoming traffic in the area of Ware Lane and Hunsaker Lane and initiated a traffic stop. The Sheriff observed signs the driver, Erin Rose Lambert, 37, of Eugene, was impaired. After additional investigation, Lambert was arrested for DUI.

On January 1st at about 12:20 a.m., a deputy observed a vehicle driving inconsistent speeds and failing to drive in its lane in the area of Highway 126 and Central Road. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, Austin Ray Vanbaale, 30, of Eugene. The deputy observed signs of impairment, and after additional investigation Vanbaale was arrested for DUI.

A few hours later, deputies were advised by Eugene Police that a female, Briseida Escalera Reyes, 29, of Eugene, was driving around looking for Vanbaale, and had been reported to them as a drunk driver. Deputies contacted Reyes when she drove home, and observed signs of impairment. After additional investigation, Reyes was also arrested for DUI.

On January 1st at about 4 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a single vehicle crash into a power pole on Howard Lane, north of Junction City. The pole was knocked down, cutting power to nearby homes and creating a significant hazard for first responders. Deputies located the driver, Rogelio Mateo Vazquez, 23, of Harrisburg, at an area hospital, and observed signs of impairment. After additional investigation, Vazquez was arrested for DUI and Driving While Suspended - Misdemeanor.

Please consider others on the road in the new year:
- Plan your safe ride home ahead of time
- If you drink or use drugs, do not drive for any reason
- If you know someone has been drinking or using drugs, don't let them drive
- If you host a party with alcohol, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver
- And please, always wear your seatbelt!

01/01/2025

𝑪𝑮𝑷𝑫 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞/𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭: January 1, 2025 / 12:07 AM
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: El Tapatio Restaurant
725 E. Gibbs Ave. Cottage Grove, OR
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 #: 2025-0001
𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝: Austin K. Waszkiewicz
𝐀𝐠𝐞: 35
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Cottage Grove, OR
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬:
ORS 163.190 – Menacing - Domestic Violence
ORS 166.220 – Unlawful use of a Weapon -Firearm
ORS 163.270 – Felon in Possession of a Firearm
ORS 163.275 – Coercion

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: Cory Chase – Chief of Police

On 01/01/2025 at about 12:07 AM South Lane 9-1-1 received a report of a suspected kidnapping that had just occurred at El Tapatio Restaurant located at 725 E. Gibbs Ave. in Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove Police Officers were nearby and responded immediately to the location where they contacted witnesses to the incident.

During the subsequent investigation it was reported to officers that Austin K. Waskiewicz was observed confronting his girlfriend at the south entrance to the restaurant while brandishing a firearm and demanded that she come with him. After a brief argument the two left the restaurant together in their vehicle and returned to their residence at 40 Sweet Ln. in Cottage Grove. Officers were able to confirm the location of the residence and the presence of the vehicle described by witnesses parked in front of the house.

Due to the volatile nature of the incident and the involvement of a firearm, the Eugene Police Department was contacted to request mutual aid. The Eugene Police Department SWAT team responded to assist in the resolution of the incident.

At about 8:30 AM, Waszkiewicz was taken into custody by SWAT team members at the residence without incident. The SWAT team transferred custody of Waszkiewicz to Cottage Grove Police Department Officers at the scene. He was then transported to the Cottage Grove Police Department while the investigation continued and later transported to the Lane County Jail where he was booked and lodged on the above listed charges.

There were no injuries during the operation and there is no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident. The Cottage Grove Police Department was assisted by the Eugene Police Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police to bring this incident to a safe resolution.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.

12/26/2024

This is definitely not a post we want to make but unfortunately the storm last night caused quite a bit of damage and we don't have the finances or manpower to get things fixed and back up and running this year. Unfortunately Winter Wonderland is cancelled for the rest of the year, we know this is a disappointment and we wish there was a way to finish off the year. We hope to be able to bring this back for everyone in 2025 and that we see you all at the races at Cottage Grove Speedway this summer as well. We want to thank everyone that came out this season to support us and enjoy Walking in a Winter Wonderland, we had a great time with you all.
For anyone who has purchased online tickets for any of the remaining nights, those will be refunded back to your account.