Bend man arrested after police say he attempted to sexually assault woman

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A 40-year-old Bend man was arrested Tuesday morning after police said he tackled a woman and attempted to sexually assault her in a railroad underpass along Third Street.

Bend Police responded around 9:31 a.m. Sept. 29 to a report of a woman running to a business in the 200 block of NE Third Street after reporting she had been sexually assaulted.

According to police, the 39-year-old Bend woman told officers she was walking through the railroad underpass along Third Street when she encountered Sheldon Shawn Doveri, whom she vaguely knew.

Police said the two briefly spoke before Doveri masturbated in front of the woman, tackled her and attempted to sexually assault her.

The woman fought to get away, and police said a bystander entered the underpass, causing Doveri to run away. The woman then ran for help and called 911, providing officers with a description of the suspect.

Officers found Doveri a short time later near NE Fourth Street and Hawthorne Avenue. He was arrested and taken to the Bend Police Department before being lodged in the Deschutes County Jail.

Doveri is accused of attempted first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, harassment and public indecency.

Police have not yet identified the bystander who intervened. Detectives would like to speak with the man if he witnessed the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.