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Hostage-taker was on antidepressants, alcohol
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Jesse Johnson was killed at 109 Michigan Ave., pictured here, after taking a baby hostage Friday night. |
April 22, 2007
A man who held a baby hostage in a downtown home Friday night apparently became erratic after he consumed a mixture of antidepressant medication and alcohol, authorities reported.
Jesse Lee Johnson, 27, was shot and killed by a Klamath Falls police officer after he told authorities he was on alcohol and methamphetamine and was ready to kill his girlfriend's 11-month-old son, said Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb. It was unclear Saturday whether Johnson was on meth.
Investigators later discovered he took medication with alcohol right before the hostage situation.
Those who knew Johnson told investigators he had a history of delusional behavior after mixing the drugs.
The incident began between 6 and 7 p.m. when his girlfriend left the baby alone with Johnson. After leaving, she called him at their home at 109 Michigan Ave. She noticed he sounded delusional and aggressive over the phone, investigators said.
The baby's grandmother heard about the situation and called 911 just before 7 p.m., and Klamath Falls police officers responded. They surrounded the home and attempted to negotiate with Johnson.
Investigators still don't know what Johnson was hoping to accomplish by taking the baby hostage.
A police officer approached Johnson from behind after he walked outside the home while holding a knife to the boy's throat. With his handgun, the officer fired one shot, hitting the back of Johnson's head. The maneuver allowed the officer to get a clear shot without harming the baby, Caleb said.
Johnson died after being taken to Merle West Medical Center. The baby was taken into custody of the state's Department of Human Services.
Caleb would not release the name of the police officer who fired the shot, saying it would be released at a later date.
On Wednesday, a grand jury will hear the case concerning the officer to determine whether he complied with police procedures. The officer was placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation by the county's major crime team headed by the sheriff's office.
Oregon law says a law enforcement officer can use deadly force when his life or the life of others is in imminent danger.
“My preliminary investigation shows that it was a justifiable homicide in that a police officer had to make a quick choice to save an 11-month-old child,” Caleb said.
Johnson had past run-ins with law, including charges in 2003 of interfering with a police officer, disorderly conduct and vandalism.
- By Laura McVicker
A man who held a baby hostage in a downtown home Friday night apparently became erratic after he consumed a mixture of antidepressant medication and alcohol, authorities reported.
Jesse Lee Johnson, 27, was shot and killed by a Klamath Falls police officer after he told authorities he was on alcohol and methamphetamine and was ready to kill his girlfriend's 11-month-old son, said Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb. It was unclear Saturday whether Johnson was on meth.
Investigators later discovered he took medication with alcohol right before the hostage situation.
Those who knew Johnson told investigators he had a history of delusional behavior after mixing the drugs.
The incident began between 6 and 7 p.m. when his girlfriend left the baby alone with Johnson. After leaving, she called him at their home at 109 Michigan Ave. She noticed he sounded delusional and aggressive over the phone, investigators said.
The baby's grandmother heard about the situation and called 911 just before 7 p.m., and Klamath Falls police officers responded. They surrounded the home and attempted to negotiate with Johnson.
Investigators still don't know what Johnson was hoping to accomplish by taking the baby hostage.
A police officer approached Johnson from behind after he walked outside the home while holding a knife to the boy's throat. With his handgun, the officer fired one shot, hitting the back of Johnson's head. The maneuver allowed the officer to get a clear shot without harming the baby, Caleb said.
Johnson died after being taken to Merle West Medical Center. The baby was taken into custody of the state's Department of Human Services.
Caleb would not release the name of the police officer who fired the shot, saying it would be released at a later date.
On Wednesday, a grand jury will hear the case concerning the officer to determine whether he complied with police procedures. The officer was placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation by the county's major crime team headed by the sheriff's office.
Oregon law says a law enforcement officer can use deadly force when his life or the life of others is in imminent danger.
“My preliminary investigation shows that it was a justifiable homicide in that a police officer had to make a quick choice to save an 11-month-old child,” Caleb said.
Johnson had past run-ins with law, including charges in 2003 of interfering with a police officer, disorderly conduct and vandalism.
- By Laura McVicker
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| Earth Day in the Basin |
Reader Comments
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skii v. wrote on Jun 26, 2009 12:51 AM:
" Steven Vannarath is my cousin and he is a really good guy.ive been talking to him for the last couple months.After that night happend,i could not sleep for days thinging about him.He has a beautyful daughter that he miss.he will be a free man im acouple of months.GOD LET YOU BE WITH EVERYONE AMEN "
phillip wrote on Feb 1, 2009 1:43 AM:
" I'm looking for 100+ acreas of land with anual running water, stream, etc, with tree's, as forested as posible, am going to build a cabin for me to retire, thank you. "
Stephanie Patterson Southwell wrote on Oct 4, 2008 6:19 PM:
" I came across this article and find it very interesting. My grandad was the "Southwell" in Southwell & Stilwell :) My dad and uncles were raised in Klamath Falls until they moved to the Portland area. "
Margaret wrote on Apr 29, 2008 11:19 AM:
" It appears the two negative reader comments are associated with the wrong article, as they do not seem to relate. It's unfortunate they are appearing after reading such a nice article about this concert. "
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Rebecca T wrote on Jul 10, 2009 9:16 PM: