Coos County DA: Man calls for ambulance, shot and arrested by officers
BANDON, Ore. -- Officers shot a man twice in the arm Tuesday night after he had called 911 for an ambulance, the Coos County District Attorney said.
District Attorney Paul Frasier said that the man, later identified as Charles Wayne Crum, requested medical assistance at his rural Bandon residence.
According to Bandon Police officials, Crum has a history of violent behavior with officers, as well as misdemeanor warrants on file.
The sheriff's office protocol states that officers must assist potentially dangerous subjects before sending out an ambulance.
Arriving officers, who thought the man was armed, fired shots and hit him in the arm, police said. Officials report that Crum refused treatment for his non-life threatening injuries and was taken directly to the Coos County Jail.
Officials said that the incident started at around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday when a man identifying himself as Charlie Crum called 911 asking for medical assistance or an ambulance.
Dispatch officials said that Crum couldn't provide a street address when they asked his location. The operators used a tracking feature to find that the call was coming from a property at the end of Marple Lane near Bandon, Oregon.
Officials said that Crum had been violent with Bandon Police officers in the past. When dealing with people like that, it is protocol to send a sheriff's deputy to the scene before sending an ambulance, the sheriff's office said.
A Bandon Police officer responded to the call since their police department was closer than the nearest Coos County sheriff's deputies.
The responding officer reported that when he arrived on-scene Crum ran from his fifth-wheel trailer and hid in the nearby brush.
District Attorney Frasier said that rather than force the issue, the officer drove away from the property and waited for backup to arrive.
A short time later, Crum called 911 again asking for an ambulance and complaining that they sent out the police instead, officials said.
The DA's release said that another Bandon officer and two sheriff's deputies came out to assist in the situation.
Police said that the responding officers called out to Crum, who they believed was still in the underbrush.
The officers said that as they were leaving the property, Crum (who was actually inside the trailer) opened the door to the fifth-wheel and stood in the doorway holding what appeared to be a rifle.
Frasier said that all four officers opened fire, fearing for their safety. Crum was hit twice in the arm, police said.
Crum refused medical treatment for the non-life threatening gunshot wounds and was taken to the Coos County Jail on his outstanding warrants, the district attorney said.
The Coos Bay Police Department is heading the investigation into the shooting. Since officers from both Bandon Police and the Coos County Sheriff's Office shot at Crum, those agencies will not be involved in the investigation.
The district attorney said that investigators are working to determine whether the officers actions were permissible under Oregon law, and to decide if Crum should face other charges.
My uncle was shot Christmas night by many vicious armed Police in my home town of Bandon, Oregon... He called 911 for a heart issue or something medical to that affect, the 911 checked his records due to his name and sent police instead, because of his as they claim violent past.. their local policy says violent criminals must be met by police first instead of an ambulance first responding.. He got scared when cops showed up and ran in to the woods, they left.. then came back assisted by a military sized police brigade.. they called to him saying come out, two minutes passed then he opened his door flailing his arms like wheres the abulance.. they INSTANTLY FIRED SHOTS the exact number I do not know... Two bullets hit him grazing his arm.. Then took him to jail for two Misdemeanor warrants NON violent I will add.. He has never struck a cop or anything although they say he is violent WTH?? he is getting old and is slightly disabled.. The police officers are being investigated currently to see if it is within Oregon LAW to have shot at a VIOLENT CRIMINAL THEY SUSPECTED WAS holding a GUN?? WHAT GUN! you know.. I read the law and it clearly no where says they can assume a hands waving is a gun in any way shape or form.. but they blocked off the property and will not let family enter the property.. we are afraid they are going to Lie and say he was holding a gun.. Which he donât have.. to save their corrupt butts! we know theirs a lot of corrupt people here.. They abused their rights as police, and shot an UN-armed man, and he IS LUCKY WE DIDN'T Bury him him today you know, thank god.. lucky to be alive.. they will not let us talk to him, they wouldn't tell us how he was, only bits and pieces to the news.. He was un lawfully shot. My point is this proves once again ITS THE PEOPLE WITH GUNS NOT THE GUN Rights that cause ill intent. And another point in why people want their second amendment rights should not be tarnished. I mean in the end if they find these officers guilty IDK you know. Itâs Pharmacopoeia to blame for things like Newtown. the attack is being shifted from government pharmaceutical ran operations and the adverse and even reversed side effects of their drugs, using the tragedy to instead attack the second amendment.. thatâs another thing all together but it just brings to mind at least for me..
That is how our local law enforcement reacts (take out any perceived threats then investigate the situation to get the facts.( POOR TRAINING,PARANOIA, OVERÂ ZEALOUSLY.)Â
 @headmower exactly its a national problem too. Kudos.
What a confusing article! "Crum (who was actually inside the trailer) opened the door to the fifth-wheel and stood in the doorway holding what appeared to be a rifle." It's never clarified WHAT he was actually holding and nothing in the story indicates that anything was AIMED at the officers. How can people who need mental health care get help if they get shot by police officers while standing in the doorway of their home with, obviously, ANYTHING in their hand? The article makes it sound as though this situation was not handled well by either of the responding law enforcement agencies.
 @CaptchaThis Thank you for seeing the truth you couldn't be more right Sweetie! Thank you for speaking up, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kudo to you as well! thank you for the support.
 @Casey Newman  @CaptchaThis 2 hits hes down why 38 more shots but they are police we are who we are  you and i both know in the end bro walks through life with the scar to remind him to never call a ambulance again and these 4 cops still have a job...its who you know and who you b---- patty