Written by Olivia Plew, LCCC

Published: 01 June 2018

The City of Chelan needs your help! 

We are preparing a Master Plan for Lakeside Park to help guide future improvements to the park and we need your input. 

As part of this Master plan we’re applying for State recreation funding for a Phase 1 Improvement that will improve parking facilities, restroom facilities and water access at Lakeside. 

With the community’s input, the City will be able to better demonstrate a need for improved facilities which increases the likelihood of being awarded a grant to implement Phase 1 of the project.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Written by Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal

Published: 01 June 2018

On 05/28/18 at 4:15 PM Douglas County Deputies responded to a report of a hiker who had injured her ankle while hiking along Douglas Creek. 

Douglas Creek runs through a deep canyon which stretches from the Waterville Plateau to the Palisades. 

The Hiker, a 59 year old Seattle woman, had slipped on rocks and sprained or broke her ankle.  She was unable to put any weight on it to hike back up the rugged 80 foot deep ravine. 

Members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Fire Department, and the Chelan County Mountain Rescue team responded with specialized equipment to rescue the woman.  They used ropes, pulleys, and a winching device to pull a litter back up the hillside.  

The hiker was transported by ambulance to Confluence Hospital.  Her current condition is unknown.

Great response and teamwork by all the first responders.

Written by Erin McCardle, Executive Director, Historic Downtown Chelan Association

Published: 11 May 2018

Chelan, WA (May 11, 2018) -- The Historic Downtown Chelan Association is proud to announce the launch of the expanded summer concert series, featuring live music every Friday night from 6-8pm beginning June 15th and continuing through August 31st. This summer season of live music will be held in the Riverwalk Pavilion along the shores of Lake Chelan.

The Music in the Park Summer Concert Series will feature all styles of music for the community to enjoy throughout the summer. Enjoy everything from rock-and-roll to blues to country to jazz as you sit and soak in the stunning views of Lake Chelan as your backdrop. This weekly concert series will showcase local bands, as well as bands who started their musical adventure in Lake Chelan and have gone on to expand their fame.

The Music in the Park Concert Series takes place 6-8pm at Riverwalk Pavilion on Lake Chelan and will feature:
June 15 – Jesse James and the MOB
June 22 – Polecat
June 29 – Wayne Evans
July 6 – Dimestore Prophets
July 13 – Nic Allen
July 20 – Hook Me Up
July 27 – TLC Jazz Band
August 3 – Eden Moody
August 10 – 509’s
August 17 – Bryson Evans
August 24 – Nic Allen
August 31 – Whiskey Fever

This extraordinary summer lineup is free to the community thanks to the incredible support from Re/Max Advantage, Vacasa, Caliber Home Loans, and the Lake Chelan Community Services Council. Enjoy a relaxing evening downtown as you explore the unique shops and restaurants of historic downtown Chelan, then grab a spot on the grass at Riverwalk Pavilion. For more information, historicchelan.org/music-in-the-park

Written by Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal

Published: 08 May 2018

On 04/29/18 at approximately 10:30 PM, Douglas County Deputies received information that a warrant suspect,  20 year old Morningstar St. Peter of Spokane, was hiding at a residence on the 700 Blk. of Fairview Ave. in Bridgeport, WA. 

The arrest warrant was for Escape From Community Custody. 

They went to the house and knocked on the door.  When a female, the renter, answered the door, the deputies inquired if St. Peter was there.  At first the woman gave conflicting stories, then she went back in the house and came out with St. Peter. 

St. Peter was arrested without incident and transported to the Okanogan County Jail. 

Although the renter told Deputies she did not know if there were any additional people in her house, they discovered three males and one female inside.  The Deputies also noticed drug paraphernalia in the house.  The deputies secured the residence and applied for a warrant to search for illegal drugs. 

The affidavit was reviewed by a judge and the warrant was granted.  While executing the warrant the deputies found two small bags of heroine, one small bag of methamphetamine, and four glass pipes containing methamphetamine. 

The investigation is continuing.

Written by Herb Sargo

Published: 28 April 2018

Written by Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal

Published: 16 April 2018

C#18D-01866: On 04/10/18 at approximately 1:50 PM an anonymous citizen contacted Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal to report that a person with a known warrant was hiding in a house on the Bridgeport Bar with permission of the owner. The person was able to give a description of the residence. A Deputy went to the house and contacted the owner. At first she denied the wanted person was at the house. Later she brought him to the door and he was arrested without injury or incident. The suspect was identified as 37 year old Alberto Lopez Flores of Bridgeport. He was booked into the Okanogan Jail for a felony warrant for Escape from Community Custody.

C#18D-01852: On 04/09/18 a Deputy on routine patrol in the 1000 Blk. of Columbia Ave in Bridgeport, WA spotted a person standing in the back yard who he recognized as having a warrant for his arrest. The suspect went in the house. Another Deputy was called to watch a second exit. The suspect 24 year old Omar Medina-Hermengildo of Bridgeport was arrested without injury or incident and transported to the Okanogan County Jail.

C#18D-01850: On 04/09/18 at approximately 7:00 PM a Deputy responded to a malicious mischief report in the 400 Blk of Kentucky. Two residents in the trailer park reported their vehicle tires had been punctured, one that day and one several weeks earlier.   A screwdriver was found sticking of the vehicle tire that had been damaged during the day. There was no suspect information.

C#18D-01823: On 04/08/18 at approximately 7:19 PM a Deputy on routine patrol in the Orondo area spotted a maroon Jeep at the mini mart gas pumps. He ran the license plate and found the plates actually belonged to a Saturn, a common ploy by car thieves. The Deputy contacted the driver and asked him his name. There was no record of the name he gave on file. The person told the Deputy he got the Jeep from a friend but could not remember his name. The person also could not recall his own address. A RiverCom dispatcher was able to cross check the switched license plate with a person who had the same DOB as the suspect. The suspect was finally identified by an alias he used. It was also found he had a felony warrant for his arrest for possession of methamphetamine. A search of the suspect’s clothing uncovered three bindles of methamphetamine. The suspect was arrested without incident or injury. He was booked at the Chelan County Jail for the warrant, possession of methamphetamine, making false statements, and no valid operator’s license without ID.

C18D-01814: On 04/08/18 at 11:30 AM a Deputy responded to a burglary report in the 3600 Blk. of NW Cascade. Unknown person(s) had broken into a shed. The thieves stole camping equipment, power tools, and a Minnkota trolling motor. The total loss was over $2,000.00.

Written by Kevin Morris, Undersheriff, DCSO

Published: 16 April 2018

Case# 18D01768 – On 4-6-18 at 5:45 am the Douglas County Special Response Team (SRT) along with the Columbia River Drug Task Force (CRDTF) and members of the Chelan County Regional SWAT team served a high-risk search warrant in the 2000 block of S.E. Legacy Place, without incident.

Once the residence was secure and safe, the CRDTF conducted a thorough search and recovered illegal narcotics, parts of a meth lab and a 9mm handgun with the serial numbers ground off.

The department of Ecology was called to clean and dispose of the meth lab.

As a result of the investigation, 33 yoa Michael C. Cooper of East Wenatchee was arrested and booked into Chelan County Regional Jail for 2 counts of Unlawful Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamines), Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamines), Felon in possession of a firearm and Possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.

This operation is another example of the boundless working relationship we all appreciate in our Law Enforcement community.

Written by Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal

Published: 02 April 2018

On 03/25/18 a Deputy on routine patrol was flagged down by a citizen who wanted to report a child sex abuse incident. 

After taking an initial statement, the case was turned over to detectives.  Further investigation revealed that 18 year old Elijah D. Rieve of East Wenatchee, a level 2 sex offender, had been in contact with four juvenile males, ages 11, 12, and 13.  Over the course of approximately three days he committed six counts of Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes, one count of Unlawful Imprisonment, one count of Child Molestation in the First Degree, one count of Child Molestation in the Second Degree, and one count of Indecent Exposure. 

Detectives served a search warrant at the suspect’s residence and gathered evidence which substantiated allegations made by the victims.  

Investigators acted quickly identifying victims and arresting the suspect.  He is being held without bail at the Okanogan County Jail.  Additional charges are pending.

Written by Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal

Published: 02 April 2018

On 03/26/18 at approximately 6:46 PM a Douglas County Deputy was on routine patrol in the 400 Blk. of 16^th in Bridgeport when he spotted a male he believed to have a felony warrant from Department of Corrections. 

The suspect ran into an apartment and hid.  A female at the apartment said the male had left.  The deputies had seen no one leave.  The woman then told the deputies the person they’d seen run inside was her daughter.  Clearly it was not.  She finally consented to let the deputies inside.  They found the suspect hiding under a box spring.  

The suspect, 24 year old Derrick Charley of Omak, was arrested without incident and transported to the Okanogan County Jail.  The female, 28 year old Michelle Olvera-Cruz was arrested for Rendering Criminal Assistance and transported to the Okanogan County Jail without incident.