Baker City Man Faces Robbery, Weapon Charges After Geiser-Pollman Park Incident

Taryn Matthew Niehaus, 19, of Baker City, was jailed Tuesday after police recorded four charges against him stemming from a weapon-involved incident at Geiser-Pollman Park, the public recreation space near downtown Baker City.

Officers logged the incident at 9:56 a.m. on April 7. The charges listed in the Baker City public-safety log entry for April 8 are second-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and harassment.

The four-charge combination carries specific legal weight under Oregon law. Second-degree robbery involves taking property by use of force or the threat of force. Unlawful use of a weapon indicates a weapon was brandished or deployed in a manner prohibited by statute. Menacing is conduct intended to place another person in fear of imminent physical injury, while harassment covers offensive or threatening conduct directed at another person.

Geiser-Pollman Park is among the most active public spaces in Baker City, used by families and children year-round for recreation. A weapon-involved robbery allegation at the park during morning hours is the kind of incident that draws immediate concern from residents who treat the space as part of their daily routine.

The public-safety log listed Niehaus as jailed on all four charges. That entry is the first official public record of the arrest and reflects the charges as documented by responding officers.

As with all public-safety log entries, the charges are allegations, not convictions. Baker County prosecutors will review the evidence and determine whether to file formal charges. If they proceed, Niehaus will face arraignment in county court, followed by discovery and pretrial proceedings. Subsequent court filings will track case status and outcomes.

Suspicious activity at Geiser-Pollman Park or elsewhere in Baker City should be reported directly to the Baker City Police Department.