The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate 28 year-old Sergio I. Valdes, who has two outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. On May 29, 2017, Valdes was involved in an altercation at the Slide Waters amusement park in Chelan. He fled the scene and took with him his two youngest children, being 18 months- old Casper, and the other 6 months- old Aviahna. Valdes is believed to still be with his children but their whereabouts are unknown. The children’s mother has not seen them since May 29.
Help us get these children back to their mother and family safely. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Sergio Valdes or his children are asked to call the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office at 667-6843, or the RiverCom dispatch center at 663-9911
Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett was recently installed as the newest President for WASPC, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chief’s.
WASPC held their annual spring conference at the Spokane Convention Center May 22 – 25, 2017. During which the now Past President, Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg, officially installed Sheriff Burnett on Wednesday evening.
WASPC currently has 198 Police Chiefs and 39 Sheriff’s as active voting members, and many other associate and affiliate members.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs values: a mission-driven association; quality services; honesty and integrity; accountability and responsibility to our members; diversity; public/private partnerships; competent, professional staff; membership involvement and progressive innovation. WASPC offers four types of membership: life, active, associate, and affiliate. Membership within WASPC offers numerous benefits at all levels.
Benefits of WASPC Membership:
• Pro-Law Enforcement Lobbying Efforts on both the State and Federal Levels
• Discounted Registration on WASPC Conferences and Vendor Trade Shows
• Training Opportunities at Discounted Rates
• Get-The-Word-Out Email Notifications
• Access to the WASPC Members-Only portions of the WASPC Website
• Informational Documents
• Law Enforcement Online Forums
• Membership and Agency Directories
Sheriff Burnett will serve a one-year term as President of WASPC. He has previously served one year terms as Vice President and President elect, before serving as a Sheriff at large position. Sheriff Burnett calls the opportunity both an honor and humbling, since his nomination came from his peers of the 38 other elected Sheriffs of the State of Washington. WASPC alternates the President position annually from Sheriff to Chief and back to Sheriff.
Sheriff Burnett stated that he originally became involved with WASPC to help network with other Sheriffs and Chiefs from around the state, in order to form relationships and gain knowledge on best practices in Law Enforcement in order to reduce liability for the taxpayers of Chelan County.
Sheriff Burnett’s term as WASPC President runs from May 2017 – May 2018. Sheriff Burnett is also a current co-chair for the Sex Offender Notification and Registration Committee.
Regular Board Meeting
142 Pedoi St., Bumgarner Building, June 8th, 2017, 4:10pm
I. Call to Order
II. Flag Salute
III. Agenda Additions & Deletions
IV. Public Comment/Questions
V. Approval of Minutes
a. May 11, 2017 Regular Meeting minutes
VI. Financial Review
a. Review Monthly Financial Reports
b. Review and Approve Monthly Voucher
VII. Old Business
a. Director’s Report
b. Park Improvements
i. Downtown Waterfront
ii. Willow Point Restrooms
VIII. New Business
a. Hydrofest
IX. Adjournment
Next Regular Meeting: July 13th, 2017 at 4:10pm, 142 Pedoi St., Bumgarner Building
Updated Release 06/05/2017 6:13pm
On Monday June 5th Chelan County Mountain Rescue (CCMR) personnel worked with Sheriff’s Office deputies to attempt to locate the body of Benjamin Gore, the 19-year old subject involved in the glissading accident on Sunday afternoon. A team of five CCMR and one deputy were flown to the top of Asgaard Pass and then descended on foot to the hole in the snow where Gore disappeared. A deputy attached to a belay line was used to access the hole as far as was deemed safe. There was no sign of Gore and the view was obstructed by the high flow of water under the snow. It is estimated the hard snow pack at the scene is approximately 25 to 30 feet deep. The hole has been formed by a waterfall of snow melt runoff which exits the snow above a large rock and then creates the hole in the snow below the rock. At this time, the amount of snow is preventing rescuers from accessing the area below the snow pack. Search and rescue coordinators may need to wait several weeks for an opportunity to make an actual recovery of Gore’s body. The family has been notified and understands the situation.
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Original Release 06/04/2017
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports a glissading accident has likely claimed the life of a 19-year old Mercer Island, WA man Saturday afternoon. The incident was initially reported at 5:01pm and occurred below the summit of Asgaard Pass between Colchuck Peak and Dragontail Mountain. A satellite text message had been relayed to the Washington State Department of Emergency Management’s duty officer stating there had been an accident in which a male subject had fallen into a hole and disappeared under the snowpack. GPS coordinates were included in the message, but no other information was available.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue coordinators began notifying mountain rescue members to respond. A Lifeflight medical helicopter was available to assist with an initial check of the coordinates in the Asgaard Pass area. A hoist equipped helicopter was requested from the State. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office “SnoHawk-10” helicopter assisted with the search and rescue effort.
All attempts to locate the subject in the hole, which runs well below the deep snowpack were unsuccessful. Search efforts were suspended due to darkness at approximately 8:30pm. A search will continue on Monday morning. The victim’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
The initial report is that the 19-year old was with one other subject as they were both attempting to glissade down the snow field from the summit of Asgaard Pass to the glacier area below. Glissading is the act of intentionally descending down a steep slope in a controlled slide on a person’s feet or buttocks. It routinely involves the use of an ice-axe or similar device to assist in controlling the slide. Glissading is a high-risk activity due to the unforeseen dangers (such as holes or crevasses) in the snow path. Inquires reference this medial release can be made to Sergeant Kent Sisson.
C#17D-02718: On 05/26/17 at approximately 8:00 PM Douglas County Deputies heard what they believed was a gunshot in the area of 11th St. and Columbia Ave. in Bridgeport. They quickly responded to the scene and spotted several people running away from the area. One person was identified as a possible witness. He said he observed a male fire a gun into the air. The person gave a description of subject. Deputies searched the area and detained one person for a short time. There was not enough information to link that person to the incident at that time and he was released. The were no injuries or property damage. The investigation is continuing.
C#17D-02754: On 05/28/17 at 7:00 PM Douglas County Deputies responded to an assault complaint at a business located in the 1100 Blk. of Columbia St. in Bridgeport, WA. The victim said she was paying for some food when another person in the store started and argument with her. The antagonist shoved the victim and hit her hard on the side of the head. The victim’s right ear was red and swollen. The suspect then left the store. An eye witness gave the same account of the incident. The suspect, was positively identified by the victim and the witness. The Deputy located that suspect, 23 year old Iris Marroquin of Bridgeport, a short distance away. Marroquin denied any involvement or even being in the store. She was arrested for Assault 4th degree and transported to the Okanogan County Jail without incident.
C#17D-02772: On 05/29/17 at 5:45 PM the Douglas County Deputy received a report from Seattle Air Traffic Control of an incident involving a drone. The reporting party stated that they were tracking a plane flying at 10,500 feet in the area between Rimrock Meadows and Waterville. The pilot reported a drone, described as 4 feet long and black, had come so close to his aircraft that he had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. There was no information of who was operating the drone when the incident occurred. There were no injuries or property damage.
The deputies were extremely busy during Memorial Day weekend and the following week.
Very Respectfully,
Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal
The third Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Pangborn Memorial Airport Master Plan (Plan) will be held on June 6, 2017. The Plan serves as a roadmap for identifying the orderly development of Airport facility, equipment, and service needs necessary to meet existing and future Airport demands. The Plan will identify 20-year capital improvements as envisioned by the Airport, in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidance and that complement community interests.
PAC Meeting #3 will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Flight Building located at the Airport (1 Campbell Parkway, East Wenatchee, WA). PAC Meeting #3 will focus on Airport Facilities and Alternatives. This effort will identify the type and location of facilities necessary to meet future Airport activity and infrastructure needs.
Presentation information from PAC Meeting #3 will be posted to the Airport’s Master Plan web page following the meeting (https://www.flywenatchee.com/master-plan/). The Master Plan web page also includes links to the prior Plan documentation, including ‘draft’ working paper materials, announcements, and other information on how to provide public input.
Questions and comments regarding the Plan can be directed to masterplan@pangbornairport.com, or 509-884-2494, ext. 200.
The Historic Downtown Chelan Association is excited to announce the kick off to our final fundraising efforts for the Woodin Avenue Landing. The Woodin Avenue Landing is a park that will be located between Campbell’s Resort and the Old Bridge leading down to the public dock in downtown Chelan. Because this area has never been inviting, many locals do not even realize it is public space. Chelan has a limited number of public lake access points, and creating the Woodin Avenue Landing will allow us to take advantage of one that already exists. Downtown Chelan is the heart of our community, and beautifying this space will help create a stronger, more cohesive community.
There is currently $107,000 committed to help make this happen, but some of the committed funding is contingent upon completing the project in 2017. The HDCA must raise $30,000 by August 1st in order to break ground on September 5th and finish the park in 2017. HDCA is a non-profit and all contributions are recognized by the IRS as tax-deductible. All donors will be recognized on a donor plaque located within the park. If you’d like to leave a legacy with a donation to the Woodin Avenue Landing, please call or email HDCA at
HDCA would like to thank the City of Chelan and Lake Chelan Rotary for their partnership on this project.
Woodin Avenue Landing is the first phase in a multiple phase project called the Gateway Park Project. Any additional money raised during this fundraising campaign will be rolled into the second phase of the Gateway Park Project, which is the area in between B.C. MacDonald’s and Campbell’s Resort Park Room. For more information on Woodin Avenue Landing and HDCA’s other projects, please go to historicchelan.org.
Over the next week, the PUD will prune and remove various trees at the Old Mill boat launch parking lot.
All trees being removed have been deemed unhealthy by a certified arborist; their removal will allow neighboring trees room to flourish.
A variety of new trees will be replanted to increase the health and appearance of the park.
On May 22, 2017 Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on two search and rescue operations during the weekend.
The first was reported on Saturday, May 20 at 2:15pm when a caller reported they were with a group at Cantaloupe Island Crag in the Icicle Drainage and had an injured member in their party. Chelan County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Cascade Ambulance, Chelan County Mountain Rescue responded. The patient, 22 year old Lauren Adkins of Redmond had twisted her ankle approximately 1800 vertical feet above the roadway on an extremely steep trail. A ground team of Search and Rescue members and medics were deployed. Medics were able to splint her ankle and she walked out with assistance at approximately 2015 hours. Adkins refused transport to the hospital.
The second was reported on Sunday, May 21 shortly after 11:00am when a caller reported a mountain bike accident on the Xanadu Trail in the Derby Canyon area of Peshastin. 42 year old Jennifer Eichorn sustained a broken leg in the mountain bike accident. Chelan County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Cascade Ambulance, and Chelan County Fire District 6 personnel responded to conduct the rescue. Ms. Eichorn was transported by wheeled litter to a Sheriff’s Office UTV outfitted with a carrier, which then took her to a waiting ambulance on the roadway. Eichorn was transported to Central Washington Hospital at approximately 1630 hours.
On 05/26/17 at approximately 3:00 AM Douglas County Deputies responded to a vehicle prowl which had just occurred in the 500 Blk of 18th Street in Bridgeport, WA. The complainant reported that at approximately 2:30 AM his wife awakened him to say she could see someone inside his pickup. The complainant put his clothes on and went out to confront the subject. The complainant recognized the person and tried to grab him. The subject a male resisted and ran. He got into a vehicle and started to drive away. The complainant jumped in through an open window and attempted to turn off the vehicle and pull out the keys. He lost his grip and fell out of the vehicle after a short distance. He was not injured. The suspect made off with a stereo subwoofer worth about $800.00. The identified suspect is still at large and the investigation is continuing.
While I greatly admire this man’s courage and willingness to draw a line in the sand against criminals, it would have been much safer for him to call 9-1-1 right away. Mere things are not worth one’s life.
This weekend we will have extra marine patrols on the river at the north and south end of Douglas County. I encourage all boaters to make sure you have all required equipment on board and that your vessel is in good working order. The legal standard for Boating Under the Influence is the same as that for DUI (.08% BAC). As a matter of public safety, we don’t give warnings for BUI. Enjoy the holiday, but don’t take chances with your safety and the safety of others.
MVT WebCam 