Released by: Lieutenant Ty Rupert Released Date: 03/04/2024 Location: China Hat / Milepost 32 Persons Assisted: 28 year old female, Redmond, OR 22 year old female, Redmond, OR 6 year old male, Redmond, OR 4 year old female, Redmond, OR 3-Dogs   On 03/03/2024 at approximately 1615 hours, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a family who got their vehicle (2007 Dodge Ram truck) stuck in 3 feet of snow on China Hat Road, near China Hat Butte (milepost 32) southeast of Bend. The reporting party, who did not know the stranded motorists had attempted to assist the family t ..read more

Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: August 22, 2023 Location: Three Sisters Wilderness Deceased:  John David Mulcahy, 66-year-old male, St. Helens, Oregon Narrative: On August 18th, 2023, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report of an overdue hiker. As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined John Mulcahy left the Pole Creek Trailhead on the morning of August 15, 2023, with the intent to summit the North Sister and the Middle Sister in one day and return to the Pole Creek Trailhead that evening. Family members had not heard fro ..read more

On August 12th, 2023, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit was dispatched to Paulina Lake Falls Trail for a report of an injured hiker. Initial reports detailed a 53 year old female who had possibly broken her ankle while hiking and could not walk to the main roadway. Twelve Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers and one Special Services deputy responded to the location and treated the hiker by placing her leg into a splint. The hiker was then placed into a wheeled litter and transported to the main roadway, where La Pine Fire assumed patient car ..read more

Release By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: August 7, 2023 Hiker #1: 27-year-old male, Prineville, OR Hiker #2: 25-year-old female, Napa, CA Narrative: On August 5, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue was dispatched to two lost and disorientated hikers between North and Middle Sister, near Hayden glacier. Due to poor weather conditions and remote location, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit requested assistance from a helicopter. Lifeflight agreed to fly two DCSO SAR volunteers to a landing zone as close to the subjects as ..read more

On August 6, 2023, at approximately 1:20 pm, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit was dispatched to a report of a fallen climber at Smith Rock State Park. Initial Reports detailed a climber fell approximately 20 feet while rappelling off the Brogan Spire on BLM land north of Smith Rock State Park. The subject was rendered unconscious for several minutes due to her fall. The injured climber’s partner yelled for assistance and several local climbers responded and contacted Deschutes County 911 Dispatch. Local climbers assisted the subject from a suspended position onto an ..read more

On 07/15/23 at 10:00 am, Deschutes County Search and Rescue were dispatched to the area of Swampy Lakes Loop trail near Swede Ridge Trail intersection. Initial reports advised a mountain biker who was racing in the High Cascades 100 had crashed and severely injured his knee. The rider was not able to ride out of the area, nor was he able to walk and was requesting assistance from Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue. A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Special Services Sergeant, and deputy, along with nine Search and Rescue Volunteers responded to the injured mountain biker’s ..read more

Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: May 27, 2023 Location: Deschutes River, near La Pine State Recreation Park Narrative: On May 27, 2023 at 3:15 pm, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a boat crash on the Deschutes River near La Pine State Recreation Park. Initial reports advised a jet boat was travelling up river when it struck a submerged tree that was not visible. As a result of the collision one of the passengers, a 50 year old male, was ejected from the boat. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue responded to the scene to assist La Pine Fi ..read more

Release By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: May 27, 2023 Location: Paulina Lake, Newberry National Volcanic Monument On May 27th, 2023, at 10:58 am, Deschutes County 911 Dispatch received a 911 call regarding an injured hiker on the Paulina Lakeshore Trail in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument near the Paulina Lake Lodge. The caller reported that a 66-year-old female fell while hiking resulting in injuries that prevented her from walking. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers were activated, and a total of 7-SAR volunteers responded to this mission ..read more

Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: May 27, 2023 On Friday May 26th, 2023, at about 2:30 PM. Deschutes County 911 Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a motorcycle crash in the East Fort Rock OHV trail system area near China Hat Rd. milepost 17.5. The 911 caller reported that a 63-year-old female had been riding on OHV “Trail 18” when she crashed on her motorcycle and sustained non-life-threatening injuries that limited her mobility. This 911 call was split to Bend Fire and Rescue, though due to the location of the patient, Bend Fire requested the assistance of the Deschute ..read more

Released By: Sergeant Jason Wall Release Date: March 16, 2023 Location: Paulina Peak, Newberry National Volcanic Monument Snowboarder #1: Hefflefinger, Erik Maxim 33-year-old male, Bend Oregon, deceased. Skier #1: Minsker, Ian, 44-year-old male, Bend, Oregon Skier #2: Delashmutt, Ari, 34-year-old male, Bend, Oregon   Narrative: On March 15, 2023, at 12:48 pm, The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) unit was dispatched to a report of an avalanche at Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Paulina Peak. The reporting party, the International Emergency Coordination Re ..read more