Police department calls: Transient arrested in Keizer fire pit incident

A woman described as a transient was arrested on Friday, Nov. 7, after a fire she started in Claggett Creek Park escaped a barbecue pit.

Lt. Chris Nelson of the Keizer Police Department said the city had reports of transient camps in the park and police responded just before 9 a.m. to a call about an incident with a parks worker.

“An officer observed a 42-year-old woman swinging a garden rake toward a city parks employee, who was attempting to extinguish a small fire the woman had started in a park barbecue pit. The fire had spread to the ground nearby,” Nelson said.

No one was injured, he said, and Chestina Rutledge was charged with menacing and disorderly conduct.

• At about 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, a homeowner and her sister discovered a transient asleep on the living room couch at a home in the 600 block of North Chemawa Road.

The sister found the woman when she went to the living room to get a blanket. The two women locked themselves in a bedroom with two children to call police.

The woman on the couch “admitted to entering the home uninvited, in search of a place to stay,” Nelson reported.

The front door had been left unlocked for the owner’s husband.

Kimberly A. Higgins, 39, of Keizer, was arrested for first-degree criminal trespass.

• Just before midnight on Friday, Nov. 7, police responded to reports of gunshots and a vehicle speeding away in the area of Northeast Oneil Road and Murphy Lane in the Clear Lake area of Keizer. No injuries or property damage were reported but police recovered five casings. Keizer police are asking anyone with information to call the agency at (503) 390-3713.

• A motorcyclist who police had said eluded them in October was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Police reported that a motorcyclist eluded police on Oct. 16 after officers tried to stop him for speeding and weaving through traffic on River Road. They discontinued that pursuit after the rider drove into a residential neighborhood and ignored stop signs.

Dash camera video helped police identify the motorcycle and the rider, Nelson reported. Earl J. Chamberlain, 41, of Salem, was cited in the 4500 block of North Erin Way for attempting to elude police.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3

10:31 p.m. – Theft III – all other larceny in the 5500 Block of River Rd N

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

12:08 a.m. – Theft III – shoplifting in the 5500 Block of River Rd N

2:47 a.m. – Criminal mischief III – dis. conduct in the 5400 Block of River Rd N

2:47 a.m. – Criminal trespass II in the 5400 Block of River Rd N

8:52 a.m. – Criminal trespass II in the 5400 Block of River Rd N

8:52 a.m. – Offensive littering in the 5400 Block of River Rd N

12:00 p.m. – Harassment – physical in the 900 Block of Chemawa Rd NE

12:39 p.m. – Harassment – physical in the 600 Block of Cummings Ln N

2:08 p.m. – Criminal trespass II in the 6300 Block of River Rd NE

2:08 p.m. – Disorderly conduct 2nd deg in the 6300 Block of River Rd NE

2:14 p.m. – Harassment – physical in the 1000 Block of Laurelridge St NE

2:14 p.m. – Telephonic harassment in the 1000 Block of Laurelridge St NE

4:08 p.m. – Susp – activity in the 1600 Block of Lockhaven Dr NE

4:59 p.m. – Theft II – all other larceny in the 900 Block of Chemawa Rd NE

7:51 p.m. – Assist rendered – welfare check in the 500 Block of Chemawa Rd N

8:26 p.m. – Incident issued in error on River Rd N & Dietz Ave NE

10:15 p.m. – Theft by deception in the 5000 Block of Chehalis Dr N

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

1:20 p.m. – Assist rendered – gov in the 5900 Block of Trail Ave NE

1:59 p.m. – Failure to perform duties of driver when property is damaged in the 4900 Block of River Rd N

3:09 p.m. – Disorderly conduct 1st deg – false report in the 1600 Block of Lockhaven Dr NE

9:12 p.m. – Other misc. – crime prevention in the 6600 Block of Hogan Dr N

9:14 p.m. – Other misc. – crime prevention in the 6400 Block of 14th Ave NE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

12:54 a.m. – Criminal trespass I in the 600 Block of Chemawa Rd N

12:36 p.m. – Theft II – all other larceny in the 200 Block of Glynbrook St N

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

7:56 a.m. – Susp – activity in the 2500 Block of Jorie Ln NE

8:06 a.m. – Menacing – use/display weapons in the 1400 Block of Dearborn Ave NE

8:06 a.m. – Unlawful use/carry weapon – aggravated assault in the 1400 Block of Dearborn Ave NE

4:53 p.m. – Theft II – shoplifting in the 6400 Block of Keizer Station Blvd NE

5:02 p.m. – Theft III – shoplifting in the 6100 Block of Keizer Station Blvd NE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8

12:22 a.m. – Menacing – use/display weapons in the 3800 Block of River Rd N

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9

9:18 a.m. – Uumv – recovered for other agency on Leo St NE & Brooks Ave NE

10:32 a.m. – Theft III – all other larceny on Bailey Rd NE & Dearborn Ave NE

NOTE: Information is provided by the Keizer Police Department. The agency has removed specific addresses.

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