Monthly Archives: May 2021

Astoria Police request OSP bomb squad for suspicious device located on W. Marine Dr.

On 05/11/2021 at about 9:05 AM an Astoria Police Officer was in the area of the 400 Block of W. Marine Dr. when an unknown person threw a smoking metallic device into the center of one of the eastbound Lanes of travel.  The object was charred, metallic and bulging, “all signs that it needed to be treated with caution” said Deputy Chief Eric Halverson.  After a consultation with the Oregon State Police Bomb Squad they determined the safest course of action would be for them to respond, x-ray and recover the object.  Numerous individuals staying in the residence the object was believed to have come from denied knowledge of what it was or who had thrown it.  At approximately 12:02 PM the bomb squad arrived and removed the object from the roadway.  It was further examined at a safe location.  After it had been opened, model numbers and it’s construction suggested that it was a lithium laptop battery that had undergone a reaction.

Astoria Police participate in National Distracted Driver Month

During the month of April, the Astoria Police Department participated in National Distracted Driver Month enhanced enforcement activities.  During April, the Astoria Police Department in conjunction with Oregon Impact deployed additional officers to enforce the distracted driver law and educate the public on the law and the dangers of distracted driving.

During the enhanced enforcements, officers contacted drivers who were in violation of Oregon’s distracted driver law.  Officers participating in the enhanced enforcements were stopping and contacting an average of two drivers per hour.  During these contacts officers took the time to explain the distracted law and the reason for this law to the driver and their passengers.

With the help of Oregon Impact the Astoria Police Department will be continuing this type of enhanced enforcements throughout the year.  It is the hope of the Astoria Police Department that by having this type of focused enforcement the number of drivers that drive distracted will be reduced as well as the number of crashes involving these drivers and innocent motorists.

Missing 74 year old Astoria woman located safe

On 05/08/2021 at about 4:55 PM Astoria Police received a report from family members that 74 year old Maria Rico had gone missing from her residence in Astoria.  Rico reportedly suffers from dementia.   Astoria Police Department was assisted in looking for Rico by the Clatsop County Search and Rescue Team, Astoria Fire Department, Warrenton Police Department and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office .  A community alert was also put out to Astoria residents, but Rico was not located overnight.

Fortunately  a community member spotted Rico  just before 7:30 AM this morning near Gray Elementary School and notified a Search and Rescue Member that was in the area.  A short time later Mrs. Rico was reunited with her family.

Astoria Police would like to thank community members who called in information and offered assistance in locating Mrs. Rico.  We would also like to thank Clatsop County’s Search and Rescue Team, Astoria Fire Department, Warrenton Police Department and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.