OSP seeks S. Ore. Samurai sword assault suspect

Oregon State Police is seeking the public’s help to find a suspect in an early Friday morning assault involving a Samurai sword at a home near Grants Pass in Josephine County.

The suspect is also wanted on outstanding unrelated warrants, and OSP urges the public to not contact him and to call OSP Southern Command Center dispatch at 800-442-2068 or 9-1-1 with any information indicating where he is.

Around 1:45 a.m., OSP dispatch was notified of a stabbing in the 2400 block of NW Highland Avenue in the Grants Pass area. Troopers and detectives responded to the scene to investigate.

One person was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening wounds.

A preliminary investigation indicates the suspect, Preston James Sweaney, 23, was in a motorhome with his brother, Nathanial Sweaney, 21, and another relative, Christian Burnison, 18, when they became involved in an argument that turned physical between the older siblings.

Preston Sweaney allegedly was holding a Samurai sword and caused laceration wounds to Nathanial’s side and left arm. Christian Burnison also received a minor cut on his hand while trying to intervene.

Preston Sweaney was last seen fleeing the motorhome on foot and should be considered dangerous, troopers said. He is wanted on a felony drug-related warrant out of California and a misdemeanor warrant out of Curry County, Oregon for failure to appear on an original charge of Intimidation.

Preston Sweaney is described as a white male, 5’9″, 155 lbs, hazel eyes, and a scar on his chin and tattoos on his chest, right calf, and shoulder. When last seen leaving the scene, he had a shaved head with a “Mohawk” strip, and was wearing blue jeans with white rear pocket stitching and no shirt.

Nathanial Sweaney was taken by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grant Pass for treatment. Christian Burnison was not taken to a hospital.

OSP Criminal Investigations Division detectives are leading the investigation.