Animal Abuser Arrested, July 18

Immediately after the 4th of July weekend the Coos County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of incidents in the Powers area involving Steven Tallhunter, age 56, who is a Powers, Oregon resident. Several investigations were opened as a result of these reports. Sheriff’s Deputies learned that the first incident Mr. Tallhunter was involved in was a trespass incident at the Powers County Park where Mr. Tallhunter returned to the park after having been trespassed from there. The second incident occurred on 6/26/2016 when Tallhunter used his vehicle to trespass on the Powers Airport property during a “Fly in” that was being held at the Airport. Mr. Tallhunter then used the same vehicle to cause significant damage to the airport runway and nearly striking a person present at the facility. The third incident detailed the unlawful trapping of an injured fawn in early June. Steven Tallhunter is reported to have injured and tortured the animal over a span of as many as four days which resulted in the death of the animal. Steven Tallhunter was contacted by Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office on 07/10/2016 at about 10:00 PM at his residence in Powers and arrested and charged with 1 count of Aggravated Animal Abuse I, 2 county of Criminal Trespass II, 1 count of Criminal Mischief III and 1 count of Reckless Driving. He was transported to the Coos County Jail and booked. Several investigations remain open and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public who may have witnessed incidents involving Steven Tallhunter in the Powers area and the Powers County Park specifically during the Memorial Day Weekend and the White Cedar Days celebration. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Coos County Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Miller at (541) 396-7830.