| Name: Todd Koberstein | Profession: Police Officer |
| Relationship: Ludwig line | Country: United States of America |
| Todd Koberstein: Police officer in Roseburg, OR
by Karen J. Coates A first edition printing of In Our Time sits on the bottom shelf of a built-in bookcase in our hallway. It's a 456-page black-and-white archive of some of the world's most renowned photographers — an elite crowd of Magnum shooters — covering events and people, profound and prosaic, the world over. It's had a long journey, that book. It sits here now, in our recently rented condo in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where karma played in our favor and we were graced with shelves almost eight feet high. I've never had so much ready book space, and I'm tickled. I love books. … We called the police. Patrol Officer Todd Koberstein came and he declared it the most bizarre burglary he'd every worked. He jotted notes about titles and (minimal) lost values. The only book of any great worth was In Our Time, which was $65 new in 1989. But the book had been out of print for several years, and the sentimental value to Jerry, a photojournalist, is many times more. Officer Koberstein logged our case in as No. 2000-70. We never heard from him again. Ed note: Looks like an everyday action of this officer got put in a book.
JOHN SOWELL, jsowell@newsreview.info March 14, 2006 Crouse, who had only been on the job about 18 months, called for assistance from Officer Todd Koberstein, who had extensive training and experience in drug cases. He confirmed the informant who had supplied Crouse with the information was a drug user whose tips had proved reliable. By the time Koberstein reached the scene, Newport had gone inside the nearby Wild Rose Lounge. The officers entered the tavern and asked Newport to talk with them outside. Koberstein told Newport they suspected him of drug activity and asked him for consent to search his person. Newport agreed and the officers found $2,038 in cash, along with a small notebook that included notations that appeared to list drug transactions. Koberstein then asked Newport if they could search the backpack on the seat of the pickup, but Newport refused. The officer searched the backpack anyway, finding marijuana. The appeals court concluded that police had probable cause that the backpack might contain evidence of drug-related crimes. However, because Newport was contacted inside the tavern and the backpack had been left in the pickup, it did not give officers the right to search the backpack without a warrant. Douglas County Circuit Judge William Lasswell had allowed the evidence found in the backpack to be introduced at trial. Newport was convicted of possession, manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. The Court of Appeals overturned the conviction and sent the case back to Circuit Court.
Police arrested eight people Tuesday on drug-related charges in a search warrant sweep throughout the county. Agents with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team, with help from Douglas County Parole & Probation and the county sheriff’s office, made the arrests. During the sweep, agents seized methamphetamine, marijuana, packaging material, scales, firearms and cash, according to a DINT press release. “Various informants and investigative techniques were used to gain search warrants for these places,” said DINT Detective Todd Koberstein.“… They’re all connected to the ongoing investigation.” A warrant served at 2988 Canyonville Riddle Road in Riddle led to the arrest of 66-year-old Larry Dee Slay, who was accused of unlawful possession of meth. A 15-year-old female was also found at the address and was arrested on suspicion of possessing meth. At 231 Maple Street No. 2 in Riddle, Jacob Isaac Rieken, 34, was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth, as was 46-year-old Robert James Webb. James Franklin Mitchell, 32, was arrested at 655 Craig Street in Myrtle Creek on a meth possession charge. A warrant was served at a small travel trailer at 2600 Eagle Valley Road in Yoncalla where two people were arrested. Darrin Peter McHaffie, 34, is accused of possessing meth and endangering the welfare of a minor. Tammie Joe Drake, 47, of Rogue River was arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of meth and possession and delivery of marijuana. A 15-year-old female was found inside the trailer. In Roseburg, at 1935 N.E. Freemont Ave., Rocky Allen Masterfield, 55, was arrested and accused of possession and delivery of marijuana. Agents seized about five pounds of marijuana at the residence, according to the DINT press release. Koberstein said more arrests are expected. |
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