On January 25th, 2020, at approximately 12:20 PM, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a reported burglary in the 1200 block of North Yachats River Rd in Yachats. The caller reported seeing smoke coming from a yurt that was supposed to be unoccupied. The caller reported a black pickup truck was parked near the yurt and was associated with whoever was there. Deputies responded to the scene and discovered someone fell trees across the driveway, making vehicular access impossible.
Two troopers from the Oregon State Police responded to assist the deputies. Together, deputies and troopers checked the area around the yurt for evidence and the subject who had been occupying it. Inside, they found several edged weapons, a bow and arrow, and pellet gun. Deputies then learned the nearby Toyota Tacoma was a vehicle of interest in a recent officer safety bulletin from Santa Rosa, California.
Deputies and troopers withdrew from the immediate area to await the arrival of LCSO K9 Nix and her handler. As they waited, deputies observed a man exit a nearby wooded area armed with a bow and arrow. The deputies recognized the man as the subject of the officer safety bulletin. Deputies began issuing commands for the man to drop the weapon and put his hands up. The man put down the bow and arrow, but deputies could see other weapons visible on his person and could not safely approach him.
Deputies and troopers negotiated with the man for over fifteen minutes until he finally surrendered. The man, identified as 37 year-old Michael Gordon Richie of Forestville, CA, was taken into custody without further incident. Richie was transported to the Lincoln County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Burglary I, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Carrying of Concealed Weapons, Criminal Trespass II, Theft III, and Criminal Mischief III. Richie’s total bail was set at $232,500.