A 32-year-old Warm Springs resident is facing charges after Bend Police say a man was seriously injured outside a Too $hort concert Saturday night. Police responded just before midnight to the area of Greenwood Avenue and Hill Street, near the Midtown Ballroom. Callers reported a 44-year-old Redmond man had been punched and was unconscious. The victim was transported by Bend Fire medics to St. Charles. Officers described the scene as chaotic, with a large intoxicated crowd and several disputes underway. With help from a security guard, police identified Hamley Sam Smith and arrested him nearby.

credit: C.O. Daily News

Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair appeared with Democratic U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum Saturday at a League of Women Voters Candidate forum.  The two candidates for Oregon’s 5^th Congressional District met at Ridgeview High School ahead of the November election. Bynum called for more housing construction, less red tape, and support tailored to both urban and rural communities. She also highlighted student needs across the district. Adair focused on Oregon’s tax burden, saying it strains businesses and working families, and argued the private sector should play a larger role in housing development.

credit: Central Oregon Daily News

A Bend man will spend more than ten years in federal prison for an armed robbery at a cannabis dispensary. Forty-three-year-old Russell Ian Boggess was sentenced to 125 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Federal court documents say Boggess robbed the Bend dispensary at gunpoint on July 23rd, 2024, wearing a bandana over his face and carrying a bag. Prosecutors say he pointed a 9mm handgun at an employee and demanded marijuana. The gun reportedly jammed twice when he tried to fire it. Boggess then went behind the counter, took the marijuana, and pistol-whipped the employee during an attempted 911 call. Bend Police arrested him minutes later.

A 65-year-old man is in the Deschutes County Jail after deputies say he stole items and damaged property at the Alfalfa Market Store east of Bend. Authorities say William Demmon, who has no known address, was arrested Tuesday after employees reported theft, and witnesses said he confronted customers outside. Deputies say Demmon then damaged an awning, flower boxes, and landscaping while trying to drive away. He faces several charges, including theft, trespass, reckless endangering, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief. Investigators also say Demmon had recently threatened a deputy’s family, and deputies have responded to eleven calls involving him in two weeks.

Deschutes County deputies arrested a Sisters man after a reported disturbance late Sunday night on North Woodson Street. Deputies say dispatchers heard children screaming during the call, and responding officers found an adult woman and two juveniles injured inside an apartment. Investigators say 31-year-old Royce Shipley entered the home without permission and assaulted the occupants before leaving. Authorities believed he may have been armed and was at his nearby apartment. After about 10 minutes of communication with Shipley he surrendered peacefully and is now in the Deschutes County Jail facing numerous charges.

A 13-year-old Bend boy is in critical condition after being thrown from his e-motorcycle when police say he collided with a minivan Friday night at NE 27th Street and Neff Road. The crash happened just before 8 p.m., as a 51-year-old Bend man was turning left and struck the southbound Surron e-motorcycle. Police say the Surron can exceed 50 miles per hour and is not street legal. The driver stayed at the scene and was not cited.

Earlier in the day Friday, another 13-year-old was hit by a car while riding an e-bike in southeast Bend along Ray Road.  In that case, the teenager was hospitalized but is expected to be OK. The driver was cited for failing to yield. Police remind parents current law states a child must be at least 16 years old to ride any class of e-bike on public roadways and paths.

Oregon fire officials are urging residents to rethink how they charge everyday devices during Fire Prevention Month. The Oregon State Fire Marshal says lithium-ion battery fires are rising fast, with firefighters responding to 161 battery-related fires this year alone. Officials say damaged batteries or improper charging can spark fires that spread quickly and are hard to extinguish. Safety tips include using manufacturer-approved chargers, keeping devices off beds or couches while charging, unplugging when full, and watching for swelling, smoke, heat, or strange smells.

The Central Oregon Fire Chiefs’ Association says local fire agencies in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties agreed to the regional opening. Residents should check with their fire department, or beforeyouburn.com, before lighting any debris pile, as conditions and permit requirements may change daily.

Legal burning at Crooked River Ranch in Terrebonne will come with a new step this season. The local fire station is asking residents to register online before burning, or use the “Before You Burn” app. Central Oregon Daily reports the tool helps reduce fire risk by giving crews key information, including the burn location and time. If a fire escapes, responders can find the scene faster and know where nearby burning is taking place. Burn closures in Redmond and Terrebonne expired October first, but residents are still urged to check conditions and complete registration before lighting any legal burn.