On March 25, 2016 at about 9:00AM, Linn County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were conducting surveillance on two vehicles in the parking lot of the vacant Kmart in Albany. The sheriff’s office detectives believed the vehicles were occupied by persons who were suspects in multiple property crimes and who were possibly armed and dangerous. At about 9:06AM, marked sheriff’s office vehicles attempted to make contact with the suspects. Two suspects fled the parking lot in a 2003 Chevy pickup. A pursuit ensued which led deputies south to Seven Mile Lane (off of Highway 34). Near the intersection of Seven Mile Lane and Saddle Butte Road, the driver, later identified as Brian E. Eller, age 39, drove his vehicle off the road and into a field towards a hazelnut orchard. The suspect vehicle became stuck in the field and both occupants, a male and female, fled on foot. As deputies approached the suspects on foot, ELLER produced a handgun and fired at deputies. The deputies returned fire, critically injuring ELLER. The female, Kimberly M ELLER, age 35, was not injured and taken into custody without further incident. ELLER was provided first aid by law enforcement on scene until medical personnel arrived. ELLER was taken by air ambulance to a local hospital for life threatening injuries. He is currently at that hospital in critical condition. No law enforcement personnel were injured. Per Linn County Senate Bill 111 Officer Involved Shooting protocols, a multi-agency crime team was activated with OSP as the lead investigating agency. The two Linn County Deputies who fired their weapons at ELLER have been identified as Ryan Keys, twelve years of law enforcement experience and Kenneth Pyle, one and a half years of law enforcement experience. It was later determined the Chevy was a stolen vehicle out of Lane County. Kimberly ELLER was arrested on scene for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and lodged in the Linn County Jail. Kimberly and Brian ELLER’s city of residence is unknown at this time but have ties to Linn County.
