A resident heard what he believed to be intruders on his property near South Barnards and Dryland roads south of Canby shortly after midnight Thursday. He grabbed his shotgun and fired a warning shot, hoping to scare off any potential burglars.
The “intruders” were actually Clackamas County deputies, who had been in the area to check on a 911 call about a possible domestic disturbance. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Sgt. Marcus Mendoza, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said deputies had responded to the area at approximately 1 a.m. Thursday, saw no signs of a disturbance at the reported location and were preparing to leave when they heard a gunshot they believed was directed toward them.
They retreated to a safe location and called for backup.
“Due to a difficult approach to the residence, time of night, potential domestic dispute and the fact a firearm was involved, the decision was made to deploy the SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams,” Mendoza said. “These teams utilize many tools and tactics to their advantage in order to resolve dangerous situations as safely as possible for all involved.”
The officers made contact with the residents, who cooperated fully with the investigation.
“It was determined they were not involved in a domestic dispute and there were no crimes,” Mendoza said. “The resident admitted to firing a shotgun as a warning to who he thought was a potential burglary suspect on his property. Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident and it was resolved quickly.”
