Third Bend transient who jumped in canal located

(Update: Harpole also located, no charges brought)

The third of three transients who jumped in a northeast Bend irrigation canal when confronted by Deschutes County sheriff’s detectives on Monday has been located unhurt and like the others does not face charges, deputies said.

Mitchell Harpole, 27, was located in Bend around noon Tuesday, Lt. Chad Davis said. He was interviewed and not charged with any crimes, he added.

“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public (for) their assistance in this case,” Davis said.

The transients whose car sped away from detectives in northeast Bend Monday morning later jumped into the canal to avoid contact, prompting a search that filed to find them,

Sheriff’s office Street Crimes Unit detectives were in the area of Comet and High Desert Lane just before 9 a.m. Monday when they saw a beige 2002 Nissan Maxima speeding and “acting in a suspicious manner,” Davis said.

The detectives tried to follow the car, but it sped away in an apparent attempt to avoid the detectives, Davis said.

The detectives drove the area of Brinson Boulevard and Peerless Court when they saw some dust flying in the roadway, the lieutenant said. They believed the car might have driven south on Peerless Court and found it parked at a business on that street, and three people running around the corner of the business.

The detectives got out of their car and tried to find the three people, later identified as Brett Vanhouten, 35, Sarah Heisler, 38, and Harpole, Davis said.

As they went around the south side of the building, they could see the three near the Central Oregon Irrigation District canal. The detectives identified themselves and told the three to stop.

That’s when Davis said Vanhouten jumped into the canal, followed by Heisler and Harpole.

About 200 yards downstream, there is a significant drop in the canal, causing a fast-moving waterfall and whitewater, Davis noted.

Detectives began a search of the area, assisted by patrol deputies and Bend police. COID also was notified of what happened.

The Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Division helped search the area with a drone, while the banks of the canal and access points were checked on foot, but Davis said the thorough search turned up none of the three.

Detectives tried to speak with family members and check previous addresses for the men and woman, but “their status as transients has made this difficult,” Davis said in a news release.

In a later update, Davis said detectives found Vanhouten and Heisler in Bend around 7:30 p.m. “and they are of no further interest.”

He said detectives learned the three got out of the canal on the south side and hid in the area for several hours before parting ways and getting rides.

Although online court records show each of the three have a criminal history, Davis said none were wanted on outstanding warrants or charges at the time of Monday’s incident.