Eugene Weekly

Taser victim Ian Van Ornum was sentenced today to 80 hours of community service, 18 months of probation and $500 in attorney fees plus court costs. A jury last week found Van Ornum guilty of the misdemeanor crimes of slowing traffic (disorderly conduct) and resisting arrest at an anti-pesticide protest last May. Many witnesses have accused the police of brutality in the arrest. Continue reading →

The Eugene City Council voted 6-2 today to move forward with spending $16 million in reserves to move the police department to a commercial office building across the river next to the Eugene Country Club. The motion was to bring back a purchase option for the privately owned building. “It’s the next logical step,” said Councilor Alan Zelenka. Continue reading →

Eugene police arrested Dennis R. Thaut this morning, alleging that the 65-year-old securities investor had run a Ponzi scheme out of First Security Financial, according to a press release. Continue reading →

In a dramatic departure of longstanding city policy against urban sprawl and for supporting downtown and keeping it safe, Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz told the city council Thursday that he wants to move the entire Eugene police department out of downtown to a commercial office building across the river in North Eugene. Continue reading →

(Ian Van Ornum photo by KVAL) The jury in the trial of taser victim Ian Van Ornum found him guilty of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Van Ornum said that he was disappointed and surprised in the verdict, but declined further comment at this time. The judge scheduled sentencing for 11 am next Friday, April 24. Van Ornum said he didn’t know what possible sentence he faced. His attorneys declined comment to reporters. Continue reading →

The jury in the trial of taser victim Ian Van Ornum found him guilty of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Continue reading →

Police cell phone, dispatch and taser time stamps contradicted a Eugene police sergeant’s testimony that Ian Van Ornum caused a long traffic back-up during an anti-pesticide protest last May. Van Ornum is on trial for allegedly slowing traffic (disorderly conduct) and resisting arrest at an anti-pesticide protest last May. Many witnesses have accused the police of brutality in the arrest. Police video in the case shows that Van Ornum was tasered twice in the back while he lay on the ground face first with his arms pinned under his side or held behind him by police. Continue reading →

The jury in the trial of taser victim Ian Van Ornum has asked, “what if we don’t agree on the verdict,” according to the judge. Judge Jack Billings said he told the jury, deliberating for the past two hours, that not agreeing unanimously would result in a mistrial and the case would “likely” be tried again by another jury. Billings said the jury told him, “they are making headway.” The judge told the lawyers in the case to remain available as the jury result may come “relatively soon.” Continue reading →

The trial of taser victim Ian Van Ornum was called back on the record at 4:35 pm. No word on a verdict yet. Continue reading →

The jury went out for deliberation at about 2:30 pm today in the case of taser victim Ian Van Ornum. The Eugene police have accused Van Ornum of slowing traffic and resisting arrest at an anti-pesticide protest last May. Many witnesses have accused the police of brutality in the arrest. Police video in the case shows that Van Ornum was tasered twice while he lay on the ground with his arms pinned under his side or held behind his back. Van Ornum’s doctor testified that he suffered a concussion. Continue reading →