REPORT OF ARMED THREAT AT SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARKING LOT LEADS TO PURSUIT AND ARREST
On March 2, 2023, at 8:56 pm, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a report of a male in front of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail who had fired a round and was waiting for Law Enforcement in the parking lot.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Adult Jail was placed on lock down, during which time investigators attempted to locate and verify the report. The male was not located in the front parking lot and initial searches did not indicate whether or not a live round was fired.
The reporting party who advised Deschutes County 911 of the initial threat was able to provide more information as to the current location of the suspect, later determined to be Preston-Cooper. Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle in the Sunriver Business Park where Preston-Cooper was reported to be residing.
Preston-Cooper was witnessed loading items into his Jeep Cherokee and left the business park travelling towards Highway 97. Plain clothes detectives were able to surveil Preston-Cooper until more law enforcement units arrived in the area to assist with a high-risk traffic stop.
Preston-Cooper fled at a high rate of speed once he realized law enforcement was attempting to stop him. Preston-Cooper drove north in the southbound lanes of Highway 97 for a short distance from the Sunriver exit before crossing over the median and then began travelling north in the northbound lanes.
Law Enforcement did not pursue Preston-Cooper as he drove the wrong way on the highway. Preston-Cooper did eventually cross back over onto the southbound lanes while travelling north from Lava Butte.
Preston-Cooper turned his Jeep Cherokee around near the High Desert Museum entrance and drove south in the southbound lanes at a high rate of speed, at which point law enforcement re-engaged in the pursuit. Law Enforcement was able to successfully spike the vehicle on two occasions as the pursuit continued south towards the Cottonwood Road exit.
Law Enforcement closed northbound traffic on Highway 97 south of the Sunriver exit, and southbound traffic north of the High Desert Museum out of an abundance of caution for other drivers on the highway.
A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputy was able to immobilize the vehicle with the Pursuit Immobilization Technique at the bottom of the off ramp on Cottonwood Road. Preston-Cooper was taken into custody without incident.
As a result of the investigation and subsequent information provided by Preston-Cooper it was determined he had driven to the parking lot across Highway 20 from the Sheriff’s Office and discharged a single round from a high-powered rifle into the administrative entrance to the adult jail. At which point Preston Cooper drove his Jeep Cherokee into the overflow parking lot of the Sheriff’s Office and waited to be confronted by law enforcement.
Preston-Cooper eventually left the area and returned to the Sunriver Business Park where he loaded 3 firearms, an external plate carrier (ballistic vest) that did not contain ballistic plates, and a tremendous amount of ammunition into the Cherokee.It is the belief of investigators Preston-Cooper had intentions of forcing a confrontation with law enforcement.
Investigators located the damage created by the single round fired at the administrative entrance to the Adult Jail. The round was able to penetrate the exterior wall of the building, however, came to rest in the interior cinder block wall in the foyer. No Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office employees or civilian staff were present where the round was lodged.
Arrested: Preston-Cooper, Nicholas Ryan, 25-year-old male, Sunriver, Oregon
Charges: Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Discharging a Firearm Across a Highway, Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer, Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Police, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person (5 Counts), Menacing, Telephonic Harassment, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.
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