News

On Thursday, March 24th, 2022, at 7:23 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2500 block of SW Lafollett Rd in unincorporated Cornelius. A person called 911 to report that Christopher Hugh Salter, 44, had just shot someone in the front yard. Deputies responded to the scene, along with an ambulance.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at approximately 2:40 a.m., 35-year-old Crystal Leuenberger died in custody at the Washington County Jail. She arrived at the Jail less than 24 hours before her death. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy later this afternoon. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office Foundation, will hold the 15th Annual Washington County K9 Trials at Hillsboro Stadium. This is Oregon’s premier police K9 competition, where K9 units from throughout the region compete for the coveted prize of “Top Dog.” The event was postponed for two years due to COVID-19 health and safety regulations.

Thank you, Washington County urban unincorporated voters, for continuing with enhanced police services provided through the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD). Your ongoing support ensures we have the funding necessary to keep our communities safe through rapid response to emergency calls, services on par with nearby cities, and resources for those experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, or substance abuse issues. It is an honor to serve this community, and we appreciate your continued support.

On the afternoon of Friday, May 13, 2022, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies learned the vehicle belonging to 77-year-old Ralph Brown, who was reported missing on May 16, 2021, was located in the Willamette River, near Roger’s Landing Boat Ramp. The vehicle was fully submerged and approximately 40 feet deep when a private company, Adventures With Purpose, located it.

In recognition of National Corrections Officers Week, Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge the hard work of our jail staff. On April 6, 2022, the Washington County Jail again earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). This renewal in accreditation marks the jail's 23rd year of compliance with NCCHC's Standards for Health Services in Jails. Accreditation recognizes the Washington County Jail's dedication to compliance with leading industry standards in correctional health care.

At approximately 10:00 p.m., Alejandro “Alex” DeLeon-Mendoza was located and reunited with his family. Deputies want to thank the public for their help in this case.

This week, members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office inter-agency Crisis Negotiation Unit participated in the 36th annual Hostage Negotiation Team Competition hosted by the Western States Hostage Negotiators' Association. Twelve negotiation teams from multiple states competed in a challenging full-day scenario in which every aspect of crisis negotiation was utilized and tested.