Two Different Missing Person Cases on S. Oregon Coast - Busy Week for Police

Published 02/06/26 at 2:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) – [UPDATE: WOMAN FOUND] - This week has been an active one for police up and down the Oregon coast. The week ends with a search for two people in different cases in southern Oregon. (Above: Ryan Handran of the Coos Bay area is missing)

Coos County Sheriffs are asking for the public’s help in locating a 45-year-old man reported missing in the last 48 hours.

Ryan Handran was last seen around 6 p.m. on February 3, when his girlfriend dropped him off for work at the Bachelor’s Inn on Edwards Road. He did not return home, and a missing-person report was filed in the early hours of February 4. According to police, Handran typically walks or takes a taxi home.

The Coos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) began canvassing the area and reviewing surveillance footage. Investigators say cameras captured Handran around 2:30 a.m. near Able Insurance, where he dropped all of his belongings - including his clothing - before walking north on Highway 101 toward Coos Bay.

Handran is described as 5'11", 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Police say he has known health concerns but is not considered dangerous.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Sgt. J. Gray at 541-396-7809 or Jgray@co.coos.or.us.

CCSO made that announcement about 9 p.m. February 5 and by midnight had made a second search announcement.

Coos County deputies were asking for the public’s help in locating a Lakeside woman they describe as “overdue” but not yet officially missing.

She has since been found.

The 57-year-old woman was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on February 5 at Up The Creek Tavern in Lakeside and apparently disappeared for awhile. Oregon Coast Beach Connection has removed the photo and name of the person involved from this article.

Deputies say they are trying to check Bernard’s welfare and ensure she returns home safely.

Newport Arrest in Salem Arson Case

Salem police arrested a 32-year-old man early Thursday in connection with an attempted arson reported last week in southeast Salem.

Officers responded to the 5300 block of Landon Street SE on the evening of January 30 after a resident reported someone trying to set fire to a home. Investigators say Jacob Braun attempted to ignite a paper bag filled with gasoline on a front porch. When that failed, he allegedly poured gasoline on the porch and exterior walls and tried to light it with a handheld lighter, but the fire did not catch.

Crime analysts distributed a regional bulletin to help locate Braun. At about 1:45 a.m. on February 5, Newport Police stopped a vehicle and took Braun into custody without incident. He was later transferred to detectives with the Felony Crimes Unit.

Braun was booked into the Marion County Jail on a charge of first-degree attempted arson. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Annex on Aumsville Highway.

“Thank you to the Newport Police Department for their assistance with locating and arresting the suspect in this case,” Salem Police said.

Bank Robbery Depoe Bay

Earlier this week, on January 30, central Oregon coast authorities quickly caught up with bank robbery suspects using their new police dog.

Lincoln County authorities arrested two men Thursday after an armed robbery at Columbia Bank in Depoe Bay led to a multi-city pursuit and recovery of more than $50,000 in stolen cash.

Deputies were called to the bank around 11:48 a.m. after two masked, armed men forced staff at gunpoint to open the vault. The suspects fled south on Highway 101 in a red sedan with no plates, abandoning and burning the vehicle minutes later near NE Stanley and E. Collins Street. Witnesses reported the pair leaving in a grey Toyota.

Newport Police located a grey Toyota Camry near Don Davis Park at 12:51 p.m. Two men were seen running from the car. Officers detained one suspect near the Highway 101/Highway 20 intersection and the second in Nye Beach shortly afterward. A search of the area uncovered discarded clothing matching what the robbers wore.

K9 teams later found a large backpack linked to the robbery. A search warrant for the Toyota and backpack turned up more than $50,000 in cash and two firearms.

Franco Armando Mereno Jr., 37, of Portland, and Jonathon F. Schwentner, 43, of Canby were booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges including first-degree robbery, second-degree kidnapping, and aggravated theft. The Major Crime Team continues to investigate.

School Threat in Tillamook County

Earlier on Thursday, Tillamook Police Department was made aware of a threat to local schools, circulating on social media and through phone calls. For a brief time, Tillamook School District #9 was planning to cancel all schools the following day, Friday, February 5, out of an abundance of caution.

That, luckily, was not warranted. School resumed the next day after developments later in the evening.

“Our Team at the Police Department is pleased to report that the investigation regarding the reported school threat has concluded and determined that the threat was not credible,” TCP said on Thursday night. “At no point were students, staff or community in danger, and there is no evidence of any ongoing risk to the school or broader community.”

 

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