Media Board

Recent media releases from the Benton County Sheriff's Office are listed below. To read past media releases, go to the "Supporting Documents" section of this web page.

Benton County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division

Extra Traffic Patrol Grant Results from October 2022

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) worked extra patrols throughout the month of October 2022. During regular patrols and extra patrols in October, BCSO had the following activity levels.

12 DUII arrests (11 alcohol, 1 drug DUII arrests).
10 Driving while suspended (arrests and citations).
18 Driving uninsured citations.
43 Speeding citations.
4 Safety belt and/or child seat citations.
4 Distracted/cell phone citations.
32 Citations for other various violations.
Deputies responded to 15 traffic crashes (7 non-injury, 8 involving injuries, and 2 fatalities)

According to NHTSA, 51% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2020 were not wearing seat belts. For more information on passenger safety tips, see; https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.

Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies will continue to work extra patrols through grant funding in November and December 2022 in regards to DUII, speed, distracted driving and seatbelt enforcement. Deputies will be enforcing traffic laws to keep citizens safe, especially on holiday weekends and special events/game days in Benton County when there is more traffic on the roadway and an increase of pedestrian traffic.

Benton County Shop with a Cop Event

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office along with the City of Corvallis Police Department and Oregon State University Public Safety will be participating in the 28th annual Shop with a Cop event.

This event brings together law enforcement and social workers to create an opportunity for children to have a positive interaction with law enforcement. Elementary-aged children are invited through local agencies including Benton County Parole and Probation and Self Sufficiency, and Child Welfare offices of the Department of Human Services.

Last year law enforcement had the honor of taking 49 Benton County kids shopping for gifts.

This year the goal is to raise $3,750, enough to shop with at least 75 kids. Each participant will receive a gift card to use for shopping. Historically, many public safety professionals dug into their own pockets during the event to ensure the kids were able to purchase exactly what they wanted.

This program is supported entirely by donations from law enforcement and community members.

Financial donations are currently being collected. If you are interested in donating, checks can be made payable to “The Sheriff’s Foundation” re: Shop with a Cop and dropped off or mailed to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, 180 NW 5th St. Corvallis, OR 97330.

Linn-Benton Alert Emergency Notification System Test

Benton County Sheriff's Office would like to announce a test of the Linn-Benton ALERT system on Saturday, November 5, 2022 between 2-4 p.m.

The test will cover all of Benton County. All traditional land phone lines in our 911 database will receive the message. Those who have registered other devices with Linn-Benton Alert will also receive the test message. We will also be sending the message to other phones found with addresses within Benton County. Recipients will be given the option to confirm receipt of the message on each phone or device.

The Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification System is a mass notification system that allows public safety officials to provide rapid notifications to Linn and Benton County residents of emergencies, evacuations, and other urgent events. There will be no reason to call our office once you receive the message.

If you haven't signed up for Linn-Benton Alerts, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to do so, and to receive any emergency-related notifications pertinent to your location.

If you would like to sign up for the Linn-Benton Alert System, please visit our website at https://co.benton.or.us/preparedness/page/emergency-alert

Highway 99W Crash

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 12:54 p.m., the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash with injuries on HWY 99W near Eureka Rd.

The investigation revealed the crash involved a 1999 tan GMC Sierra pickup and a 1997 black Subaru Legacy. For reasons not yet known, the driver of the pickup was traveling north when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on with the Subaru, heading south.

The driver of the Subaru, a seventy-six-year-old female from Corvallis, was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Center in Corvallis.

The driver of the GMC, a seventy-five-year-old male from McMinnville, was also transported to Good Samaritan Regional Center. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor in the crash at this time.

Highway 99W was down to one lane of travel for approximately four hours with assistance from ODOT, Monroe Fire Department, and the Corvallis Fire Department.

If anyone has information regarding the crash, please contact BCSO Sergeant Iverson at 541-766-0139 or by email at david.iverson@co.benton.or.us.

BCSO would like to remind drivers to always wear their seatbelts, mind their speed, drive defensively, and don’t drive impaired, which includes driving fatigued.

Fatal Crash on Alpine

UPDATE: Benton County Detectives notified a next of kin for Michael James Miller (44), of Corvallis, for Thursday's fatal crash. The investigation of the incident is still ongoing; a press release will follow if any new information arises.

On Thursday, October 27, 2022, around 11:48 a.m., the Benton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Alpine Road near Bellfountain Road.

The investigation revealed a 2005 Subaru traveling East on Alpine Road entered into a construction zone occupied by the Benton County Road Department. The Subaru failed to stop for the flagger who at the time was holding a stop sign.

The Subaru crashed into a parked Benton County Road Department dump truck inside the construction zone. The driver of the Subaru sustained fatal injuries.

The identity of the driver is being held until next of kin can be notified.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Monroe Fire Department, Corvallis Fire Department, and Benton County Road Department.

If anyone has any information regarding the crash, please contact Detective Iverson at 541-766-6858 or by email at david.iverson@co.benton.or.us.