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.