The Astoria Police Department is issuing a reminder that the Astoria Regatta Association Grand Land Parade begins at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 12^th, 2023.  Traffic will be disrupted through the downtown core beginning at about 8:00 A.M.

At 8:30 A.M. Exchange Street will be closed between 23^rd and 16^th.  The Hospital, its urgent care and the Park Medical Building will be accessible from Marine Drive at 20^th, 21^st, and 23^rd.

Exchange and Duane between 17^th and 9^th will have no on-street parking on Saturday until the parade ends.  The no parking areas will be signed, and any vehicles parked at those locations will be removed by a tow truck.  The owner will be responsible for the tow fees.

At about 10:30 a.m., all northbound and southbound streets (the numbered streets) will be closed between Commercial Street and Franklin Street between 17^th and 8^th.

These traffic disruptions will last until the parade has ended and the street has been swept.

Highway 30 will remain open, but you may experience delays due to pedestrian traffic and floats moving to the disband area. Traffic needing to get to or from the South slope of Astoria should use unaffected, alternate routes.

Deputy Chief Eric Halverson said, “We appreciate the community’s patience in dealing with the traffic disruptions that occur during the parade each year.  Our goal is to limit the disruptions for the motoring public while providing a safe route for people to view the procession.”

Astoria Police Officers have identified two suspects involved in an assault on the Riverwalk on May 1^st, 2023. Both suspects are juveniles, one was taken into custody, and the other has been referred to the District Attorney for charges.

Astoria Police officers responded to a disturbance at the Holiday Inn located at 204 W. Marine Drive, Astoria, on May 1, 2023, at 9:13 PM.  Officers contacted a female who reported that several teenagers had assaulted her while walking on the Riverwalk.  The investigation revealed that the victim approached a group of teenagers on the Riverwalk and started conversing with them.  There was an altercation as the teenagers attempted to leave the area, and the victim was assaulted with a skateboard.  Officers identified the suspects and were able to locate them on May 3^rd.  The primary offender was taken into custody, and one other teen that took part in the assault was referred to the District Attorney for charges.

Please call Detective Duryea at 503-325-4111 if you have any information about this case.

This is related to the stabbing incident that occurred at the Astoria Warming Center on February 3, 2023, in which Dwayne Blair was arrested.

On February 5, 2023, Astoria Police were dispatched to the Astoria Warming Center located at 1076 Franklin Avenue in reference to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) inside the building.  The caller told dispatch that an employee had dismantled the device, but they were concerned because the staff was reluctant to notify the Police Department.

On February 3, 2022, Dwayne Douglas Blair, 58, threw the IED in the direction of a warming center employee, and it landed several feet in front of him and rolled to a stop at his feet.  The employee placed the device in a desk drawer for safekeeping when he was pulled away to deal with the stabbing in which Blair was arrested.  Another employee with military experience examined the device on February 4^th, identified it as an IED, and dismantled it. It was then placed back in the drawer until Astoria Police recovered it on February 5^th.  The IED was a shotgun shell encased in a plastic container wrapped in tape multiple times. There was a sharp pointed end that appeared to be able to detonate the shell.

Officers Hansen and Carrera quickly located Blair and arrested him for Attempted Murder II, Attempted Assault I, and Unlawful Possession of a Destructive Device.  He was transported to the Clatsop County Jail, where he is currently being held.

Astoria Police Officers responded to the Astoria Warming Center located at 1076 Franklin Avenue on February 3, 2023, at 9:15 P.M., after receiving a 911 call reporting a stabbing inside.  Officers found a single victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to his back and arm and identified 58-year-old Dwayne Douglas Blair as the suspect.  He was arrested at the scene for Assault II, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Assault IV, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, and Resisting Arrest.

The investigation shows that Blair was recently evicted from his residence and had been staying at the Warming Center. He got into a verbal altercation with a staff member over established rules while checking in and stabbed the employee.  Officers arrived and immediately rendered aid to the victim and escorted him outside so that the Astoria Fire Department could tend to his injuries.  Additional fire personnel was called inside to care for Blair, who was incoherent and had a laceration on his arm. Blair assaulted one of our police officers as they were attempting to render aid.  Blair was restrained and transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital to be medically cleared before being transported to the Jail.

Blair was released from the Clatsop County Jail through their electronic monitoring program while officers were still at the jail.  Astoria Police Personnel worked with Columbia Memorial Staff to ensure that Blair located a place to stay that allowed him to continue his medical regime without violating the conditions of his release.

Update: Labonte was taken into custody at the Seaside Warming Center.

The Astoria Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen on February 1, 2023, informing us that 35-year-old Jericho Labonte had posted a video of himself on Facebook placing a dead fish on the front porch of the Goonies’ house.  On February 3, 2023, we received a call from Port Security Chief Matt Hansen informing us that the vessel involved in the Coast Guard rescue earlier in the day was stolen from the Port of Astoria.  He recognized the vessel on the video, contacted the owner, and confirmed that it had been stolen.  At about the same time, we received calls from several citizens identifying the rescued victim as Labonte.  He had been transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital after the rescue as a precaution and was discharged before being identified as the suspect.

Jericho Labonte is wanted on charges of Theft I, Endangering another Person, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and Criminal Mischief II. Please contact the Astoria Police Department at 503-325-4411 if you see Labonte.  He was last seen wearing a dark beanie-style hat, gray sweatshirt, and dark pants.

Officers were dispatched to a stabbing at 20 Halsey Road at 7:46 P.M. on 01/27/2023.  Upon arrival, they learned that the victim had been transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital by a friend prior to their arrival, and the suspect fled West on Route 30 in a vehicle.  A responding Clatsop County Sheriff’s Deputy observed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop.  The suspect took off at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles in a reckless manner, and the Deputy initiated a vehicle pursuit after the suspect failed to yield.  The suspect lost control near Svenson Market Road, left the road, came to stop in a ravine, and fled on foot.  He was apprehended a short time later by the Deputy, and no other vehicles were damaged in the incident. The suspect was transported to the Hospital as a precaution and medically cleared prior to being transported to the County jail, where he assaulted a Clatsop County deputy.

The Clatsop County Major Crimes Team was activated, and Astoria Police Detective A.J. Duryea is the lead investigator.  The investigation has revealed that the suspect, 31-year-old Daniel Smith of Astoria, was involved in a physical altercation outside his residence with a neighbor.  The neighbor received lacerations and stab wounds to his head and neck and has been released from the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing and the following charges have been filed:

• Assault II
• Felony Evading a Peace Officer
• Misdemeanor Eluding
• Reckless Driving
• Reckless Endangering X’s 5
• Criminal Mischief II
• Menacing
• Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Resisting Arrest
• Felony Assault on a Peace Officer

The Astoria Police Department would like to thank the Warrenton Police Department, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Seaside Police Department, and the Oregon State Police for their assistance.

Please call Detective Duryea at 503-325-4111 if you have any additional information.

On 11/29/2022 at 5:33 PM Astoria Police Department responded to a report of a bicyclist who had been struck by a vehicle in the area of 11 W. Marine Drive.  The cyclist was deceased upon the officers arrival.  At this time the investigation of the crash is ongoing and is being led by the Astoria Police Department with the assistance of the Clatsop County Major Crimes Team.  The victim has not been identified and the scene investigation is still underway. Currently it is believed that a vehicle traveling East bound in the lane closest to the curb struck the cyclist causing significant head trauma and did not remain at the scene.  Anyone traveling in the area at the time who may have witnessed this crash or who has information related to the crash are requested to contact Astoria Police Detective A.J. Duryea at 503-325-4411 or by email at aduryea@astoria.or.us.