Oregon State Police and Linn County Major Crimes Team (MCT) investigators are continuing an investigation into the death of an Albany man this morning and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have been with the man during in the preceding 24-48 hours to please contact them. The deceased man, identified as James F. Plymell III, 45, of Albany, was contacted by Albany Police Department personnel near Santiam Road and Denver Street in Albany. During the course of the interaction, officers attempted to take Plymell into custody and a physical altercation ensued. At some point in the altercation, Plymell lost consciousness and officers transitioned to performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with the aid of an Automated External Defibrillator(AED) until medical personnel arrived on-scene and pronounced Plymell deceased. The officers involved in this incident are identified as Officer Emily Schroff, Officer Gina Bell, Officer Thomas Roten and Community Service Officer Gerry Morris, all of the Albany Police Department. Pursuant to standard protocols relating to these incidents, all have been placed on paid administrative leave as indicated in the Linn County Use of Deadly Physical Force Plan. Information relating to the cause or manner of death in this matter is being coordinated through the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is ongoing and investigators are asking anyone who may have been in contact with Plymell during the preceding day(s) or anyone who may have witnessed or obtained video footage of the incident to contact Oregon State Police Detective Casi Hegney at 503-375-3555.
