Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) Deputies and our law enforcement partners had two very notable, dangerous calls this past week. Thanks to the professionalism of all of the police officers on scene, two individual suspects were taken into custody without anyone being seriously injured – Both incidents could have had a much different outcome.
On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024, the Oregon State Police (OSP) were dispatched to a report of a man who had allegedly pointed a gun at someone on the beach near the Rockaway Beach Wayside. Oregon beaches fall under the jurisdiction of the OSP, therefore they are the lead agency in this investigation.
TCSO Deputies and officers from Manzanita Police responded to the area assist responding OSP Troopers. A Watseco-area man known to Deputies as John Kim Vo, 34, was contacted at the Wayside and was acting erratic. Vo walked away from officers southbound on the beach, and would not comply with officers’ commands. Vo pointed a large knife at an officer and continued walking away.
At one point, Vo brandished an object that was covered in a sock and pointed it at officers. TCSO Deputy Sean Ahlers, was able to get close enough to use his taser to subdue Vo. An OSP Trooper also tased Vo and officers were then able to handcuff Vo and take him safely into custody.
“This incident unfolded over the course of an hour and a half, and 1.5 miles,” said Deputy Sean Ahlers. “The object hidden inside the white sock that Vo pointed at officers was found to be a loaded handgun.”
The second incident of note took place in South Tillamook County. On January 6, 2024, TCSO Deputies responded to the Salmon Drive area of Hebo, for a report that a resident of the area, James Franklin, 53, was threatening several of his neighbors with weapons and acting erratic.
When Deputies arrived, Franklin was passed out on a neighbor’s lawn, wearing a holstered pistol. Franklin had several weapons on his person, including several knives and prohibited weapons (Franklin is a convicted felon). The pistol was identified as a loaded pellet gun. Several pellet rifles were also seized for safekeeping.
According to TCSO Cpl. Barnett, during the course of transporting Franklin to the Tillamook County Jail, he attempted to injure several first responders. “Franklin spit on a Paramedic and a Firefighter, kicked a Corrections Deputy in the face, kicked an OSP Trooper in the chest at the jail, and kicked me in the chest at the hospital.”
There were six separate victims, and Franklin was booked on eight misdemeanors and one felony charge. “He was booked for Criminal Trespass 2, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Aggravated Harassment, Resisting Arrest, Assault of a Peace Officer, and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon,” said Cpl. Barnett. “Thankfully for everyone involved, he was passed out when we arrived.”
Tillamook 911, Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, and Tillamook Ambulance also assisted with these calls.
