NW Bend shotgun blasts lead to arrest

A Bend man wanted for firing several shotgun blasts toward two pedestrians in northwest Bend early Friday flagged down a passing motorist near Benham Falls late Friday afternoon and said he wanted to turn himself in, police said, leading to his arrest. Officers said they learned he’d recently talked of “shooting random people.”

Around 1:45 a.m. Friday, an officer heard the sound of several gunshots in the area of Northwest Newport Avenue and 13th Street, said Sgt. Nick Parker.

The officer saw a car leaving the area and also saw two people walking in the area who pointed toward the vehicle, Parker said.

The officer chased after the car for about two blocks, at which point the driver jumped out and ran, leaving the unoccupied vehicle to crash into a fire hydrant, the sergeant said.

Evidence found at the scene indicated the suspect shot in the direction of the two men, both in their 20s and Bend residents, Parker said, adding that neither man knew the suspect, identified as Stephen Kemm Mitchell, 32, of Bend.

One of the pedestrians was struck in the neck by the wadding from one of the fired shotgun rounds, but neither was injured, Parker said.

A search of the area with a K-9 team was conducted, but Mitchell was not found.

As the investigation continued, Parker said officers learned “Mitchell had recently made statements about shooting random people.”

Around 5 p.m., Mitchell waved down a passing car near Dillon Falls, south of Bend, and told the driver he wanted to turn himself in to police.

Bend officers, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police found Mitchell and took him into custody without incident.

Mitchell was lodged early Saturday in the Deschutes County Jail on charges of attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing. Bail was set at $257,500.