On October 3, 2017, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip regarding a wanted subject identified as Eric R. Wadkins (age 40 from Coos Bay). The tipster reported Wadkins was hiding in a residence on SW 10th in Coos Bay. Wadkins was wanted on a failure to appear warrant (original warrant being Assault IV-Domestic Coos County).
Sergeant Adam Slater, Coos County Sheriff’s Office, went to the residence to locate Wadkins. When Sergeant Slater attempted to put Wadkins in custody, Wadkins resisted arrested and fought with Sergeant Slater. Sergeant Slater was temporarily knocked unconscious and Wadkins allegedly attempted to take Sergeant Slater’s firearm from the holster. Sergeant Slater was able to maintain control of his firearm and Wadkins ran from the scene into a wooded area. Sergeant Slater called for emergency assistance from local agencies.
Police Officers responded from Coos Bay Police Department, North Bend Police Department, Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Coquille Tribal Police Department, Bandon Police Department, Detectives from SCINT (South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team) and Oregon State Police. The Oregon State Police started a perimeter on SW 12th Road when two citizens reported their vehicle had just been stolen. The Oregon State Police Sergeant radioed the information to responding units. At that time, a North Bend Police Officer was almost struck by the stolen vehicle when it crashed near milepost 1 on 7 Devils Road just south of Charleston.
Wadkins ran from the stolen vehicle into another wooded area near Cape Arago. Law Enforcement set up a perimeter and the Coos Bay Police Department tracking K-9 responded. The K-9 (Dak) located Wadkins but Wadkins was able to enter into a building onto a private property on Walker Road. Law Enforcement entered the building and made contact with Wadkins and Wadkins continued to resist arrest. Eventually, Wadkins was placed under arrest. Wadkins was transported to area hospital for evaluation and was lodged at the Coos County Jail.
Sergeant Slater was also treated and released from the hospital. Sergeant Slater has been with the Coos County Sheriff’s Office since 2002 with the exception of two years after the layoffs in 2007. Sergeant Slater was promoted on July 1, 2017. He is currently assigned as a patrol Sergeant and is a K-9 unit. Sergeant Slater’s K-9 was not on-duty at the time of the incident.