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SUNNY Temp: 59 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 17, 2003 Police investigate mill bomb threats, assault A temporary worker says he was attacked after seeing a man with a pack at the Rogue River site By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Two bomb threats and a reported assault on an employee at the Louisiana-Pacific mill have police and mill workers looking for suspects and motives. At about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, an unidentified caller phoned the mill office and said, "There is a bomb in the mill. Thank you for destroying our forests" and hung up. The suspect then called 911 and repeated his threats, said Rogue River Police Chief Ken Lewis. The five-member graveyard crew was quickly evacuated as police and mill managers searched for a bomb. Advertisement According to Safety Specialist Chuck Vernoy, after failing to find any evidence of a bomb, the crew went back to work. But five hours later, at 3:30 a.m., a temporary-hire mill employee reported he was assaulted and knocked unconscious after seeing a white male with a backpack inside the mill. Vernoy said the unidentified employee was coming off a break and passing through a dark hallway when "all of a sudden the lights went out." Lewis said the hard-hatted, 280-pound, male employee told co-workers he was knocked unconscious and dragged into a small alcove. He was bleeding from his nose and transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released Wednesday morning, Lewis said. Lewis said he would be reviewing the 911 bomb threat tape and other physical evidence taken from the scene of the assault. "I am very optimistic we will be able to glean a lot of evidence about the suspect caller from the taped message," said Lewis. Lewis said the victim had filed a police report on May 30 for vehicle vandalism, which occurred in the mill’s parking lot. Police are still investigating that case. The mill currently employs 24 workers and is no longer sawing or milling lumber. Instead, it is drying veneer for other mills. Vernoy said he and his site managers would assist the police in their investigation. He did not feel there was any need to set up extra safety precautions at this time. "At this point, it’s kind of a big ‘I don’t know,’ " said Vernoy. "We’re going to let the police investigate it and we’ll be (doing) business as usual." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times