Arrest made on Paintball Assault Suspect

Bend Police Dept. - 09/22/18

On September 15th, the Bend Police Department received several reports of a white passenger car with multiple people inside shooting paintball guns at other vehicles, people and property. The reports continued into September 16th with no other reported incidents after September 16th.

Based on the vast amount of reporting, the similar suspect vehicle description and the concern to the livability of the community inside Bend, and just outside the city limits, the Bend Police established a small task force to investigate the rash of incidents.

This task force, consisting of patrol officers and detectives with the Bend Police Department, spent several hours a day from Saturday through September 20th putting information together to identify suspects.

Bend Police found the suspect vehicle was unique, as it was described as a white Hyundai hatchback with dark markings on it. Checking social media, a similar vehicle was identified as belonging to Zachary Richardson. The investigation consisted of identifying the local dealership who sold Richardson the vehicle and Richardson’s cell phone information. Bend Police did not have a current address or location for Richardson at this time.

Bend Police were able to gain a location for Richardson and found he was residing at 22525 Nelson Road. On September 20th at 9:56 am, Richardson was located in a vehicle stopped by Bend Police on NE Neff and Powell Butte Highway. Richardson was taken into custody without incident.

Detectives and officers with the Bend Police Department served a search warrant at 22525 Nelson Road, specifically into an RV that Richardson resides in. During the search warrant two paintball guns and paintballs were recovered. These items were similar to the ones used during the multiple assaults between September 15 and 16.

Richardson was later transported to the Deschutes County Adult Jail where he was lodged on (5) counts of Unlawful Use/Carrying of a Weapon, (4) counts of Recklessly Endangering, (4) counts of Disorderly Conduct II, (7) counts of Harassment and (5) counts of Criminal Mischief III.

The Bend Police Department is continuing to investigate this case, as we are attempting to locate and identify additional persons in the vehicle during September 15 and 16. If the public has any information regarding this incident, or were the victim of similar activities, please contact the Bend Police Department at 541-693-6911.

Below are locations and times each documented incident over last weekend.

On September 15th, Bend Police took the following reports:

NE 3rd/NE Burnside at 6:30pm

• Bicycle rider hit with a paintball shot.

Hawthorne at the SB Parkway 8:27pm

• Paintball hit vehicle

Fairway Drive at Murphy Rd 8:44pm

• Pedestrian hit by paintball.

On September 16th, Bend Police took the following reports regarding similar behavior:

NW Hemmingway/NW Sonora at 1:33pm

• Pedestrian hit by multiple paintballs.

Northbound Highway 97 near the Lava Lands 3:04pm

• Vehicle hit by paintballs.

Modoc/Ward Rd at 3:29pm

• Hit an adult bicyclist with a juvenile on the bicycle.

Rickard/27th 3:37pm

• Pedestrian hit with a paintball

Powell Butte Highway near the Bend Airport 4:07pm

• Vehicle shot by a paintball

Century Drive; Entrance of Inn of the 7th Mountain 6:36pm

• Bicyclist hit with a paintball