Lt. James “Mac” McLaughlin, the commander of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and a candidate for sheriff, is under an internal misconduct probe following a February raid and a later recording that raised new questions about the department’s tactics. The operation, which ended with the arrest of a Bend-area man, stemmed from what police records and local reporting describe as roughly $700 in alleged fraudulent gas card purchases. Internal memos and video later cited by reporters show McLaughlin praising a deputy’s “vindictiveness,” and county officials are now examining whether evidence in the case was mishandled.
Deschutes County initiated the review after reporting and documents raised concerns about the footage, according to OPB. The outlet reports that investigators are looking into whether staff tried to delete, hide or otherwise block access to recordings that capture McLaughlin praising a deputy’s conduct. County leaders have declined to provide further details while the outside review is still underway.
The incident at the center of the inquiry dates back to Feb. 25, when Deschutes County SWAT executed a warrant at a Sunriver home and arrested Paul Alfred Akehurst, according to The Source. Reporting links the case to allegations that Akehurst used a stolen gasoline card to make about $700 in purchases and notes that deputies believed he had repeatedly evaded officers. Neighbors and the homeowner later filed complaints that helped trigger an internal review of how the raid was handled.
KTVZ obtained Ring doorbell video that captured a near-porch exchange in which McLaughlin appears to compliment Deputy Michael Mangin, telling him, “Your vindictiveness knows no bounds. I love it.” That recording, now in the hands of investigators, is among several pieces of evidence under review.
Memos Flag Possible Misconduct
Internal memos reviewed by The Source lay out a list of concerns, including whether SWAT personnel went beyond the scope of the search warrant and body-camera footage that reportedly shows a sergeant apologizing after a SWAT member allegedly pressed a gun against Akehurst’s back while he was handcuffed. The memos, sent by the professional standards manager to Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert, also question deputy conduct in the jail and whether staff inappropriately discussed Akehurst’s custody status.
McLaughlin and two other employees were placed on paid administrative leave in early June while a third-party investigator examines the complaint, KTVZ reported. McLaughlin told the station he would not address the specifics of the investigation and said he is relying on the review process to provide full context.
What This Means for the Sheriff’s Race
McLaughlin is actively running for sheriff, and the probe has landed in the middle of an election season already marked by turbulence inside the agency, according to OPB. Campaign filings and local reporting identify McLaughlin and Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert as the main contenders, and the SWAT case has quickly become a focal point in debates over accountability, leadership and the use of heavily armed tactical teams for relatively low-dollar alleged crimes.
Legal Implications
The current inquiry is described as an administrative review, which could result in discipline, reassignment or policy changes if investigators conclude department rules were broken. Any criminal charges would require a separate process and a higher standard of proof, and officials have not indicated that criminal allegations are on the table.
The independent review remains in progress, and county officials say they will hold off on detailed public comment until it is complete. For now, the disputed recordings and internal memos sit at the center of the controversy, and the eventual findings could reshape both SWAT oversight and the political storyline heading into the fall election.
