Schools closed as manhunt under way for suspected cop shooter

The manhunt for the suspect in the shooting of a police officer caused an Oregon town to nearly shut down, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities believe that David Anthony Durham, 43, is on the loose in the woods surrounding the town of Waldport after he allegedly shot Lincoln City police Officer Steven Dodds Sunday night during a traffic stop.

On Monday, officials with the Lincoln County School District closed the schools in area and they plan to have classes on Tuesday, but with the schools in lockdown.

Authorities said Durham was seen and chased by police in Newport, about 14 miles north of Waldport and that he fired shots at officers. Nobody was hit, police said.

Police said the Durham ran into a wooded area after spike strips were used to disable his truck. There, he shot at a crab fisherman on a boat in Alsea Bay, authorities said. Police think the suspect many have mistaken the fisherman for a police officer, the Associated Press reported.

-- Lance Murray

Comments

[jlbriem]

Your headline is completly incorrect. The town is not gripped with fear. Some people are afraid, but the town is not afraid.
The 'suspect' is north of the only bridge across the Alsea river into Waldport, and crossing the bridge into town unseen is impossible!
This is a small community of a few thousand people. This is a hunting and fishing community, people here own guns and know how to use them.
Care and prudence by the authorities with regards to the public is being taken. The police station is next to the only high school. The kids are safe. There are so many police in and around town that the only thing to worry about is a traffic ticket.
The suspect is supposedly across the river in Bayshore or Sandpiper. There are about 1000 homes in the area and about 70% of those homes are unoccupied. The area only has full occupancy in the summertime.