Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

The other morning on the radio I heard a police report about a man who had broken into a residence in the Bayshore area of Waldport. Apparently the man broke into the house and the owner of the house heard him and got outside with her cell phone and call authorities. They arrived and tired to coax him to surrender and come out but he wouldn’t so later in the night three different police agencies entered the house and took him into custody.
He was charged with Burglary 1, Criminal Mischief II and harassment charges. He was lodged in the Lincoln County Jail on $180.000 bail.
It sounded like quite an event when I first heard it then the next day when I found out the identity of the man and the home owner it really hit me. I know the man; in fact many years ago I used to work with him. What really struck me was I was aware that he had mental issues but I always thought he was quite harmless. However because he is rather big in stature and has a mountain man looking bear he can appear to be quite menacing. When I worked with him some of my co-workers were afraid to ask him to do anything because he would just stare at them before shuffling off to do the task. They would often complain that he made them uneasy and eventually he left the job. However being here on the Central Oregon Coast in a relatively small town I think probably saved this man from real harm. What I’m talking about is the rash of deaths that have occurred in larger cities recently when police officers have been called to deal with mentally challenged individuals and given the situations there have been unfortunate consequences. This man I’m sure had no harmful intentions when he broke into the house, it is after all the home of his stepmother, but in a big city with S.W.A.T. teams primed for action he could have easily be taken out as a threat to all. It would be understandable for the police to be wary, they of course have no idea what is going on, but in this case I think they acted very well and determined this man wasn’t a raving nut but someone who needed to be taken into custody as much for his safety and for the safety of others including the home owner. What I hope the outcome of this will be some sort of help for this fellow. I have seen him for years wandering up and down the highway with a faraway look and the several times I’ve spoken to him he as a very vacant stare and little memory of who I am. Not being a doctor I can’t speak as an expert but I think a little compassion and some serious mental health work would be the best thing he could receive. I’m just glad he wasn’t caught up in a big city scenario when it moves so fast and is so oriented to putting a quick end to the problem that he would have become an easy target. I think this was a blessing that he was here and the authorities acted with restraint and competence!

To reach Rick Schultze email: yarick@pioneer.net