Man fires shot during contact with police at W. 6th/Van Buren

At 2:39 a.m. on December 3, Eugene Police responded to W. 6th Avenue and Van Buren Street after a caller reported a possibly intoxicated driver. The caller was following the suspect, later identified as Carl Russell Guenther, age 52, of Brookings.

Guenther is reported to have pulled into the parking lot of the Signature Inn and parked. When followed by the caller, he is reported to have confronted her. And she drove out and around the block to watch. As officers arrived on scene, they saw Guenther walking with a firearm in his hand and challenged him. He fired a round into the ground and then disobeyed commands, walking away from officers. He approached Signature Inn, where his vehicle was parked, dropped to his knees, then proned out on the ground.

Officers took Guenther safely into custody without further incident, recovered a firearm from his waistband, and then transported him to Lane County Jail on charges that include Unlawful Use Weapon, Carry Concealed Weapon (spring assisted knife), Reckless Endangering, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Supervisors noted the officers on the call were well organized and their response safely addressed a potentially dangerous situation in an area with numerus occupied apartments, hotels, a 24-hour 7-Eleven convenience store, and heavy foot traffic.

Case 24-18419