Deschutes DA IDs fugitive, deputy who shot him at Fun Farm

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel on Saturday identified a 33-year-old man who was shot twice in his car by a sheriff’s deputy as he apparently tried to flee and and avoid being arrested on a warrant at his father’s home at The Fun Farm north of Bend.

Here’s Hummel’s full statement, issued late Saturday afternoon (with minor edits):

“On October 12, 2018 at approximately 10:45 AM, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Jones, accompanied by two other sheriff’s deputies and two recruits who were being trained, attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant on 33-year-old Deschutes County resident Brandon Berrett.

“Berrett was staying at his father’s home located on the Fun Farm property on the east side of Highway 97 halfway between Bend and Redmond.

“When the deputies made contact with Berrett at his father’s home, Berrett jumped in his car and accelerated quickly away.

“Deputy Jones fired into the car striking Berrett twice. Berrett’s car came to a stop, medical aid was rendered, and he was transported to St. Charles (Bend). Berrett’s wounds appear to be non-life threatening and he is expected to live.”

“The reason(s) Deputy Jones discharged his weapon is part of an ongoing investigation, so details will not be provided now. The investigation is being conducted by the Tri-County Major Incident Team, which is being led for this investigation by the Oregon State Police.

“The Oregon State Police Crime Lab is processing evidence from the scene and the Bend Police Department’s forensic drone was deployed to document, from above, the details of the location where this incident occurred. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel responded to the scene and is working closely with investigators.

“Deputy Jones was hired by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in 2007. He has a total of 17 years’ experience in law enforcement. Deputy Jones is a training instructor on the topics of defensive tactics, use of Taser, and use of force.

Statement from District Attorney Hummel:

“A law enforcement officer’s decision whether to discharge a weapon is the most serious and consequential decision they have to make. When they decide to shoot, the public rightfully asks why and whether the decision was appropriate and legal. My job is to answer these questions and I will.

“I expect this investigation to be completed relatively soon and at that time I’ll release to the public my legal conclusion and the factual basis for it.”

Berrett’s father, Brent Berrett, told NewsChannel 21 on Saturday his son was supposed to report to his parole officer five days ago, but failed to do so. He told reporter Katie Zuniga what happened after deputies knocked on his door.

“And I looked and his (Brandon’s) car was sitting out front here, running,” Berrett said. “About that time, he came running around the building here and got in his car and backed up. Next thing I knew, he went around the house here and they shot him.”

Court records show Berrett has been arrested on 24 felony charges dating back to 2005 and numerous misdemeanors. In 2013, he entered a no-contest plea on a second-degree burglary charge and was sentenced to 18 months in state prison.

Last February, he was arrested on a parole violation warrant and for fleeing police in several previous pursuits where he sped away from deputies trying to pull him over.

Berrett pleaded guilty in August to fleeing or attempting to elude police and to methamphetamine possession . He received a 10-day jail term, a one-year driver’s license suspension and a year of post-prison supervision.

He also was cited in August in Benton County for driving with a suspended or revoked license and failed to appear for arraignment, prompting a warrant for his arrest.

In a Sept. 19 two-page hand-written note in that court file, Berrett said he had been jailed in Bend for two months and that being taken to Benton County and released would “cause him hardship” as he had no family, friends or resources there.

Berrett was booked into the Deschutes County Jail most recently on Sept. 29 on a parole violation and released Oct. 5 after he served his time, a jail officer said.