Sheriff's office investigates death of child
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 3:27 PM PDT
Andy Gates Argus Observer
VALE
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy Tuesday in a rural portion of the county.
The boy reportedly died after an ATV accident, according to MCSO Undersheriff Brian Wolfe.
The boy was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at Holy Rosary Medical Center, after he was transported by a personal vehicle from Vale's Jameson Willow Creek area, Wolfe said.
“We were notified that the victim and family were at the hospital,” Sheriff Andy Bentz said.
Officials have not determined if the boy's death was an accident, but it's under investigation.
“I don't know if it's an accident or not,” Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris said.
Hospital officials alerted the MCSO and the Oregon Department of Human Services, after the boy's death, Wolfe said.
The cause and manner of death has not yet been determined, according to Bentz.
“We don't know if there were signs of abuse to the child,” Bentz said.
The MCSO may issue search warrants at an undisclosed number of locations today, Wolfe said.
“We're looking at the incident to learn if a crime happened, nothing specific,” Wolfe said about search warrants. “We're investigating. We will be completing search warrants today.”
The D.A.'s office declined to comment if charges or search warrants have been issued.
“It's too early in the investigation to comment,” assistant D.A. Erin Landis said.
The body will be sent for an autopsy, either locally or to the state pathologist, Wolfe said. If the body is autopsied locally, a cause and manner of death could be determined within the next couple of days, Wolfe said. In other public safety news, the MCSO arrested Scott Stuart, 42, New Plymouth on an outstanding warrant Tuesday. A deputy on river patrol made contact with Stuart, who was fishing on the river near the Payette boat docks. He was transported to the Malheur County Jail.
mike may wrote on Oct 28, 2009 12:47 AM: