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Central Oregon Rancher Falsely Charged with Assault
False Charge Dropped – Rancher Files Tort Claim Notice and Complaint
By Edward Snook
Investigative Reporter
Central Oregon – Back in 2020 Dave McMichael’s problem with trespassers, usually bikers, came to a head when he delivered approximately 45 pictures to the Crook County, Oregon Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). He was told “they weren’t going to do anything” about the trespassing.
Dave McMichael
According to McMichael and other witnesses, the bikers had caused approximately $30,000.00 in damage. Losses include cut fences, water troughs shot, 13 bred heifers over three years, etc.
According to witnesses and reports, on March 25, 2022, McMichael caught ex-LA-cop Jeff Robertson, 13-year-old Kade Martin and his brother Ryan Martin riding their non-street-legal dirt bikes on ranch and BLM property. They rode past a clearly marked BLM sign which restricted their access as well as several no trespassing signs. Robertson and the Martin brothers attempted to flee the area resulting in Robertson wrecking his bike. McMichael confronted the three and they called the CCSO claiming McMichael had run into Robertson with his four-wheeler.
When deputies arrived on the scene, Deputy Chris Beard, a reported biker himself took over and arrested McMichael for assault without any investigation other than speaking with Robertson and the Martin brothers. Even though McMichael and one of the other deputy’s gave evidence to Beard contradicting the three bikers story Beard arrested McMichael anyway. On their way to the Sherrif’s Office McMichael asked Beard if he would be released once the other deputy at the scene confirmed there was no damage to McMichael’s four-wheeler. Beard responded, “Once you’re arrested I can’t un-arrest you. You are going through the process”.
Only a very bad cop with ulterior motives would refuse to go a short distance to where McMichael’s four-wheeler was to see if there was any damage (proving that McMichael didn’t run into Robertson) and only a very bad cop would ignore evidence at the scene vindicating McMichael.
Chris Beard is the son of former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office captain Scott Beard who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2016 by U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane for stealing over $200,000.00 in public funds and money laundering.
Dave McMichael was subsequently forced to spend $10,000 hiring an attorney due to the civil rights violations leveled at him by Crook County Deputy Sheriff Chris Beard.
The US~Observer got involved with McMichael’s case. Not long thereafter Crook County District Attorney Kari Hathorn and Crook County Under Sheriff Bill Elliott traveled to the scene of McMichael’s false arrest and quickly ascertained that Dave McMichael was in fact innocent – that Deputy Chris Beard had falsely arrested him and falsely charged him with Assault. On November 2, 2022, the false criminal charges against McMichael were dismissed in Crook County Circuit Court.
McMichael, has since filed a Tort Claim and most recently filed a complaint with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training against Crook County Deputy Sheriff Chris Beard.
Editor’s Note: Over the many years the US~Observer has been investigating bad actors in law enforcement we have learned well that when a bad cop such as Chris Beard can make such a blatantly false arrest without thinking of consequences it most likely isn’t the only bad act that cop has committed. If you have any information on Chris Beard or others in this article, please contact Edward Snook at 541-474-7885 or send an email to editor@usobserver.com.
