South-county assault, gunshots lead to two arrests
(Update with outcome of cases)
A night of drinking at a home in southern Deschutes County led to an attempted rape, threats, several gunshots fired in the air at two locations – in one case, inside a home — and the arrests of two men, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.
County 911 dispatchers received calls from several citizens around 7 p.m. Sunday reporting a man was firing a gun several times in the air in the area of the 17000 block of Whittier Drive, said Lt. Chad Davis. A man was heard threatening to “kill someone,” along with the gunshots and a man and woman yelling and screaming.
Witnesses said they saw a man leaving the area in a white Ford F-250 pickup, heading toward Lazy River Drive, Davis said. The man then returned to the area on an ATV, said he was going to kill someone and began yelling at a woman again.
The man left the area shortly before deputies, Sunriver police officers and Oregon State Police troopers arrived in the area.
A short time later, deputies identified the man who fired the shots as Matthew Wayne Coats, 43, who lived at a home in the 55000 block of Lazy River Drive, Davis said. Deputies went to that address and began negotiating with Coats and a woman to persuade them to come out. They eventually did and were detained without incident.
Deschutes County sheriff’s detectives were called in to help in the investigation. They determined that David John Sigel, 47, had been visiting Coats and a 40-year-old woman at the home on Lazy River Drive, all drinking alcohol together, Davis said.
At one point, Coats had passed out due to intoxication and Sigel assaulted and attempted to rape the woman, the lieutenant said. The woman yelled for Coats to help her and he awoke, then engaged in a physical struggle with Sigel before Sigel fled on foot.
Davis said Coats then drove to Sigel’s home and confronted a 47-year-old woman who lives with Sigel. Coats then fired about seven gunshots in the air from a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun “in close proximity” to the Whittier Drive home. He’s then accused of going into the house and firing three more shots into the wall and ceiling.
Coats left the area in the pickup and later returned on the ATV and yelled at the woman again, Davis said. He then returned home, where he was contacted by deputies.
A search warrant was executed at Coats’ home on Lazy River Drive, where deputies recovered as evidence a handgun that matched the one fired in the Whittier Drive home. Other evidence was recovered related to the earlier alleged attempted rape.
Sigel later was found at his home and arrested, and both men were lodged in the Deschutes County Jail in Bend.
Charges against Sigel included first-degree attempted rape and sexual abuse, coercion, strangulation and fourth-degree assault. His initial bail was set at $170,000. Coats was charged with first-degree burglary unlawful use of a weapon, DUII, menacing, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree disorderly conduct. His bail totaled $57,500.
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Court records show that after a 4-day trial, a jury on April 6 unanimously found Sigel not guilty of sex abuse, assault and attempted rape charges, but guilty on one count of interfering with a police officer. Sentencing is set for May 7. They also show that Coats changed his plea to guilty April 2 on three of the seven counts against him — DUII, unlawful use of a firearm and possession of psilocybin mushrooms. His sentencing is set for Wednesday, with the state recommending a 90-day jail term, three years probation, a one-year driver’s license suspension, $1,500 fine and alcohol evaluation and treatment.
