KOIN Local News

Custody battle ends with arrest, reunion

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:51:02 -0700

BEAVERTON, Ore. — An international custody battle spanning thousands of miles ended with a mother-son reunion Tuesday.

A Beaverton woman was reunited with her 11-year-old son — 16 months after her ex-husband fled Oregon with the boy. In December 2010, Marc Marenco violated a court-ordered custody agreement and took his son to New Zealand, according to Beaverton Police.

On his blog, Marenco says he fled Oregon to escape a life of abuse.

"The truth is ... our children and I have lived in a kind of twilight zone with domestic violence, abusive, and crazy-making, emotionally chaotic behavior for a long time," he explained.

In February 2011, a judge awarded sole custody of the son to his biological mother, Beaverton Police reports. Beaverton detectives investigated the case and presented it to a Washington County Grand Jury. At that time, an indictment was issued against Marenco for custodial interference. Subsequently, a warrant was issued for Marenco's arrest.

A New Zealand Court ordered Marenco to return to the United States. On Tuesday Marenco and his son flew into San Francisco International Airport, where he was arrested and the 11-year-old was reunited with his mother.

Marenco is being held in California, awaiting transfer back to Oregon, according to Beaverton Police.

"The reason that we wanted to get this information out is because there probably are other people who are in the same position as this mother," said Beaverton Police Spokesman Mike Rowe. "We want them to know there is light at the end of the tunnel."

One person weighing in on this news is Eric Jensen. He used to live across the street from the boy's mom, and heard about the custody battle on a regular basis. He was happy to hear she's been reunited with her son.

"It's very good she got her son back," Jensen said, "because it was just the number-one priority in her life: her kids."

Toddler drowns in Ore. family pool

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:44:27 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. — A toddler who was found in her family's Clackamas County pool has died.

The 20-month-old girl was found in the Damascus-area pool around 11:15 a.m. She was rushed to Oregon Health & Science University hospital by Life Flight helicopter.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Adam Phillips tells KOIN there is "nothing indicating" the child died from anything other than a drowning.

The parents will not face charges, Phillips said.

Bicyclist hit by semi in downtown Portland

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:33:21 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. — A woman on a bicycle was injured in a collision with a semi-tractor truck in downtown Portland Wednesday night.

The collision was at Third Avenue and Southwest Madison Street, around 8:30 p.m.

The woman was seriously injured, according to a Portland Police statement. The cyclists has been taken to the hospital, with injuries that police consider to be life threatening.

"At this point it appears that the woman was on her bicycle eastbound [on] Madison and the truck was making a right-hand turn from Madison, intending to travel southbound 3rd Avenue," Portland Police reports in a statement Wednesday night. "...The driver of the truck has remained at the scene."

Officers have called for the Portland Police Traffic Division to conduct an investigation.

Portland condo complex hit by fire

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:20:56 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A two-alarm condo-complex fire that sent smoke and flames into the air late Wednesday afternoon is now under control.

Portland firefighters were called to The Village at Multnomah condominiums, at 7937 S.W. 40th Ave. in Portland, sometime before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Responders quickly called a second alarm on this fire.

Smoke could be seen from as far away as Interstate 5 and Southwest Capitol Highway.

Several people, including two firefighters, were treated for minor smoke inhalation. At least six units have been burned out, but all occupants are reportedly OK.

Two firefighters suffered some burns after going in to try to find people they thought were trapped inside the burning complex. The firefighters have been taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital's burn center for treatment.

Photos from the scene

TriMet's 45-Garden Home route was impacted during the fire. This statement was sent out Wednesday afternoon by TriMet: "Due to a fire, trips to Tigard TC will not serve stops on SE Garden Home at 42nd and 45th, nor the stop on 40th at Garden Home, until the roadway clears. Buses will use Multnomah."

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was still smoldering — with firefighters watching for hot spots.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross responded to the scene. The agency is providing shelter for four of the eight people displaced by the fire.

Man 'barricaded' in Salem apartment

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:33:03 -0700

SALEM, Ore. — The Salem Police Department's Tactical and Negotiations Teams are at the scene of what is being described as "an armed barricaded subject."

Salem Police have been working this incident in the 800 block of Fairview Avenue SE in Salem.

Traffic is blocked to all non-police-related vehicles on Fairview Avenue SE between Winter and Summer streets.

A Salem Police lieutenant tells KOIN that around 5 p.m. a "round" of gunshot was fired inside a Salem man's apartment. His family was inside the apartment at the time, the lieutenant said. Those family members were able to leave the apartment safely.

Police then arrived at the scene. TNT officers are negotiating with the man inside, hoping for his peaceful surrender.

Everyone in the immediate area has been evacuated.

Vandals hit North Salem High concessions

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:08:31 -0700

SALEM, Ore. — Hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars in damage was done after vandals broke into the North Salem High School concession stand building late Tuesday night.

Wednesday morning the school worked to clean up the mess, but it's going to take a while.

"There was a tremendous mess," said Athletic Director Joel Dunn.

Damage was also done to some of the school appliances.

"The ice maker, hopefully, is repairable," Dunn said. "But that's $6,000 to replace."

The freezer and barbeque also were vandalized — and almost every locked cabinet and drawer were ripped open.

"Our booster club works tirelessly to raise money that goes directly back to our student groups, so obviously this is a big setback," said Dunn. "This is going to impact their ability to help out kids."

Salem Police said just before 11 some custodians noticed three men with dark-colored, hooded sweatshirts inside the concession stand.

"They went up to try to talk to them and that's when the subjects took off on foot," said Lt. Dave Okada with the Salem Police Department.

Salem Police said the case is being investigated. They are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Portland Police: We averted 'suicide by cop'

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:13:32 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Police Bureau issued a statement Wednesday saying they safely brought in a man who "intended suicide by cop" Tuesday night.

Around 10:30 p.m., a man reportedly called 9-1-1 saying had a gun and was "going to use it," according to Portland Police. KOIN has requested a copy of that 9-1-1 call.

Officers responded to the the area of Southeast 87th Avenue and Burnside Street, but said they initially could not find the caller.

"Several minutes later, an officer was stopped in the area talking to a teenager about an unrelated issue," Portland Police reports. "Two other people were talking to each other across the street when a subject walked up to them, armed with a rifle, and asked if they were police officers. The two men said they were not -- but pointed to the officer parked across the street."

Police say the armed man then crossed the street and approached the police car.

According to Portland Police, the teen who was talking with the officer asked the approaching man what he wanted. The man reportedly replied: "Don't be stupid." The teen then ran into a nearby house.

Meanwhile, the officer reportedly got out of the patrol car, gave the armed man commands to drop the rifle, and eventually was able to take the man to the ground "using control holds," according to a Portland Police statement.

The man was taken into custody. According to police, the rifle turned out to be a BB rifle.

The man, identified by police as 45-year-old Timothy Harber, was given a citation for Disorderly Conduct. Police say he "indicated to the officer that he was suicidal and wanted the officer to shoot him." As such, he was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment as needed.

Scappoose driver charged in crash that sparked evacuations

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:21:55 -0700

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. — Evacuations were ordered Tuesday night along the side of Highway 30 through Scappose, ordered at a moment's notice after the natural gas explosion there.

Witnesses heard the ominous sound of natural-gas leaking after a car veered off the side of Highway 30 and ruptured the line. An explosion soon followed, which then sparked a small grass fire.

With the two people in the car out safely, fire crews quickly evacuate homes and businesses within a half mile radius. Surrounding businesses such as a nearby movie theater were forced to close early

"I think they ... evacuated everyone pretty fast," said one witness.

Photos from the scene

Just before 7 p.m. the Columbia County Rider Transit system sent out the following notice:

"Riders will expect delay in service on the evening commute from Portland to St. Helens due to a gas fire at Fairview Cemetery just south of Havlik Drive on US HWY 30 in Scappoose. Rider buses are being diverted around the area -- and there is no word on how long US Hwy 30 will be closed at this time."

Along the side of the highway, crews worked to shut off the gas line and firefighters worked to put out the fire — preventing another explosion.

Within hours the leak was sealed, evacuees were allowed back into their homes and Highway 30 was reopened.

UPDATE: The 45-year-old driver has been arrested and charged with three counts related to the crash. He now faces the charges of Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Rafter stranded in Ore. state park

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:49:50 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A rafter became stranded on a ledge in Oregon's Bonnie Lure State Recreation area Wednesday.

Clackamas Fire Spokesman Steve McAdoo told KOIN the rafter fell off his raft and became stranded on a ledge -- with no way for anyone to reach him except by water.

"He is unharmed," McAdoo said. "But they need to get to him."

Clackamas Fire & Rescue responders set up a command post at this spot along the Clackamas River and Eagle Creek. Within short order the rescuers were able to rescue the man, now identified as 21-year-old Alexander Anaya of West Linn, Ore.

Anaya and two of his friends put in at McIver State Park and were floating to Barton Park, said Clackamas Sgt. Adam Philips.

Anaya fell out of the raft without his life jacket on, Philips said. However, the 21-year-old was able to swim to the ledge. That's when his friends, who weren't able to reach him, called 9-1-1.

Woman killed in East Burnside crash

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:38:26 -0700

PORTLAND, Ore. – A woman was killed in an SUV crash in Northeast Portland early Wednesday morning.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, spokesperson for Portland police, said the crash was reported just before 2 a.m., near the intersection of Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside Street. Responding officers arrived to find a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse had crashed into a power pole, and smashed through two front yards along East Burnside, Simpson said.

The woman believed to be driving, 33-year-old Shelby Lynn Williams, was ejected from the SUV and pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger Cleveland Nelson, 28, was transported to Oregon Health & Science University, where he was last reported to be in serious condition.

Investigators believe the SUV may have been traveling at 90 miles-per-hour when the crash occurred.

The accident shut down East Burnside, from Northeast 148th Avenue, for several hours. Westbound MAX Blue Line service at the East 148th Avenue station was interrupted until about 6:30 a.m., according to Roberta Altstadt, spokesperson for TriMet.

The Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division's Major Crash Team is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland General Electric also responded to check the power pole for damage.

-- Brent Weisberg and Faris Tanyos contributed to this report.