What started as a Lincoln City beach hunt for a coveted hand-blown glass float reportedly turned into a brawl, with police saying a woman grabbed a piece of driftwood and hit a man near the back of his head.
The confrontation unfolded on the sand near the Siletz Bay Lodge during a busy weekend of glass-float searches, according to police reports. Witnesses told officers the man’s jacket was torn in the struggle, and that the argument centered on who would walk away with the prized float.
According to KOIN, court documents identify the suspect as Michelle Dorcas Evans. She is facing charges that include fourth-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. A probable-cause affidavit describes the makeshift weapon as a length of driftwood about one inch in diameter and three to four feet long, and says officers were called twice to the beach near the Siletz Bay Lodge before the situation was resolved.
Witness statements quoted in the affidavit say Evans lifted the driftwood and struck the man near the back of his head, shredding his coat in the process. Evans, however, told investigators the man had run past her and pushed her first.
Finders Keepers and Beach Context
According to Explore Lincoln City, the city’s long-running Finders Keepers program hides hand-blown glass floats along seven miles of shoreline and held a special Earth Day release from April 22 to 25. Those bonus drops tend to draw extra crowds, often funneling float seekers into the most popular access points between Roads End and Siletz Bay.
Organizers say the floats are placed above the high-tide line so they can be found during daylight hours. City materials also remind hunters to keep an eye out for loose driftwood and slippery rocks while combing the sand for treasure.
What the Law Says
Under Oregon law, assault in the fourth degree is a Class A misdemeanor, although the statute allows the charge to be elevated to a felony under certain aggravating conditions. See ORS 163.160 as published by Oregon Public Law for specific legal language on fourth-degree assault.
The unlawful-use-of-weapon charge listed in court papers is a Class C felony under ORS 166.220, according to Oregon Public Law. That statute covers using or carrying a dangerous or deadly weapon with the intent to use it unlawfully.
Court documents reviewed by local outlets show Evans currently faces those charges. The case will move through Lincoln County’s court system, with any upcoming hearings expected to appear on local dockets. For now, the probable-cause affidavit remains the main public record of what allegedly went down on the sand.
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