INFORMATION RELATED TO MT. ANGEL POLICE DEPARTMENT INCIDENT
Posted: January 24th, 2012 3:55 PM
This afternoon, Mt. Angel Police Department released information regarding an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper who had previously been placed on administrative leave pending a personnel investigation who was taken into protective custody Tuesday morning related to a disturbance in their city. During their response to the incident, Mt. Angel police learned of two locations where possible explosive devices may have been left. The OSP Explosives Unit responded and assisted Mt. Angel police after a suspicious backpack was found at one location. The backpack and contents were rendered safe and determined not to be explosive. Police did not find anything suspicious at the second location.
Mt. Angel police identified the man as JOSEPH P. CONKLIN, age 29. CONKLIN was placed on paid administrative leave by OSP on December 15, 2011 pending an investigation into an internal matter related to police reports. He was hired August 2008 and assigned in the Patrol Services Division at the Florence work site.
OSP Deputy Superintendent Richard Evans extended his appreciation to Mt. Angel Police Department for their professional response to Tuesday morning's incident to ensure the safety of their community.
"OSP is grateful no one was injured and we appreciate the timely and compassionate response of those involved," said Evans.
On January 24, 2012 at 3:47 a.m., the Mt. Angel Police Department responded to the call of a suspicious disturbance involving a man in the street near City Hall. Officers took the man into custody on a Police Officer Hold for a mental health assessment and transported him to Salem Hospital. Officers also learned of two possible suspicious packages or objects left abandoned in their city. Both locations were checked and one confirmed suspicious backpack was found at Berchtold Memorial Park east of City Hall.
OSP Explosives technicians responded and rendered the object safe.
According to Mt. Angel Police Department, CONKLIN has not been arrested or charged. Questions regarding this morning's incident should be directed to Mt. Angel Police Chief Mike Healy.
No photograph to be released by OSP.
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