Oregon security guards accused of kidnapping two persons
PRINEVILLE, Ore. Aug 26 2017– Three security guards working at a large music festival were arrested for illegally entering an RV and detaining several persons that they suspected of manufacturing illegal narcotics.
The three security personnel at the massive Symbiosis music festival east of Prineville were originally charged with criminal trespass and assault charges for what Crook County sheriff’s deputies say was an illegal drug raid on an RV where a couple were falsely suspected of “cooking drugs.”
However, those charges have been dropped by the district attorney’s office as they review the case for felony charges of kidnapping and armed home invasion.
Deputies responded shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday to the report of two people being detained by security workers at the Big Summit Prairie event, which drew some 60,000 people for the total solar eclipse and hundreds of musical acts.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Travis Jurgens said the security crew members work for an Oregon company contracted to provide security during the week-long event. The initial report did not disclose the name of the security firm.
Initial reports indicated the security crew detained a man and woman on suspicion of manufacturing drugs in their RV while camped out at the event, the sergeant said. During the incident, the male was injured by a security guard.
Sheriff’s deputies investigating the incident said they determined that the two people had not been manufacturing drugs and the security guards did not have legal authority to detain them or enter their RV Jurgens said.
Jurgens said the three security personnel illegally entered the RV, where they restrained and detained the pair, then removed them from the RV, taking the male to the medical tent due to his injuries. The woman was taken to the event headquarters.
As a result of the investigation, the three security personnel — Jared Leone, 22, of Bothell, Wash.; Ryan Schroeder, 37, of Arlington, Wash., and Thomas King, 44, of North Bend, Oregon — were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespass, Jurgens said. Leone and King also were charged with fourth-degree assault.
The three were booked into the Crook County Jail in Prineville and released later Wednesday.
A jail officer said the charges were dropped.
Oregon Assistant Attorney General Dan Wendel said these security guards committed serious offenses and that the office is reviewing the evidence to proceed with more serious charges.
Jurgens said investigators also determined King was carrying a concealed handgun at the time of the incident, and although he does have a valid concealed carry permit, one of the requirements for the event was that there were to be no firearms on site which included security guards..
In Oregon, the DPSST’s Private Security and Private Investigators Program provides training and licensing services.
Unarmed Security Training includes 14 hours of live classroom instruction
Armed Security Training includes an additional 24 hours of basic armed instruction, a written examination, safe gun handling test and marksmanship qualification.
Oregon law states that “a private person may arrest another person for any crime committed” in their presence if they have probable cause to believe the person under arrest has committed the crime. The law allows citizens to detain any person suspected of committing a crime.
The contention of law enforcement in this incident is that the security guards unlawfully and without permission entered the RV and physically seized the two occupants.
