The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) has closed the book on an investigation into a fatal incident involving Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies and Allan Dale Warner, Jr., leading to Warner's death on February 20. Prosecutors have decided the use of deadly force by law enforcement in this case will not lead to criminal charges. A detailed letter was delivered to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz detailing the outcome of the investigation, outlining the reasoning behind the DOJ's decision. The document has been made public and is accessible for review.
During the investigation, the Bend Police Department took the lead under the guidance of an unit known as the Central Oregon Major Incident Team, whose primary focus was to determine the facts surrounding the use of deadly force by the officers involved in the event. The Oregon Department of Justice acknowledged the efforts of the team and extended its gratitude, as seen in a statement released on their official website. Attorney General Dan Rayfield expressed his appreciation specifically for the Bend Police Department's role in the thorough inquiry.
According to the DOJ, their role was strictly to assess whether the officers' actions amounted to conduct that could justify criminal proceedings. However, the department made it clear that any civil or administrative repercussions that may arise from the officers' actions were outside of the scope of their investigation. In other words, the focus was strictly on the legality of the law enforcement officers' actions in the context of a potential criminal charges.
