Eugene deputies seize gun, meth from vehicle during Highway 99 trespass response

A pistol, ammunition and methamphetamine were recovered from a vehicle after Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a trespassing call on a large business property in the 90800 block of Highway 99 north of Eugene. The arrests highlight enforcement of trespass laws and raise local public-safety questions about illegal firearms and drugs near commercial properties.

Deputies answered the report at about 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 and initially contacted 37-year-old Ryan Howard Pruett of Eugene in a vehicle near the property. Deputies could not initially determine whether Pruett was involved in the trespass, but investigators later concluded he was connected to the incident and detained him again after a canine search located another suspect.

K9 Tito was deployed despite pouring rain and quickly led deputies to a cluster of vehicles on the property, where 35-year-old Olivia Mae Johnston of Eugene was found hiding among cars and detained after deputies announced themselves. After the K9 locate and additional investigation, deputies determined Pruett was involved in the original trespass call and observed a firearm in his vehicle.

Because Pruett is a convicted felon, deputies authored a search warrant for the vehicle and a judge granted the warrant. During the warrant search deputies located a pistol, ammunition and methamphetamine in the vehicle. Following the investigation, Johnston was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for Trespass in the 2nd Degree. Pruett was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Methamphetamine - Misdemeanor.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office identified the K9 as Tito and noted weather conditions were heavy rain during the search. FlashAlert postings associated with the investigation include photos labeled “Eugene Arrests, Pistol.” No information on quantities of drugs or ammunition, pistol make or model, bail amounts, prior convictions for Pruett beyond the designation of “felon,” or forthcoming court dates was released in the initial law enforcement summaries.

For residents and property owners along Highway 99 and surrounding industrial and commercial corridors, the arrests underscore recurring concerns about trespass, vehicle-based activity on private lots and the potential for illegal weapons and drugs to be present on site. The LCSO deployment of investigative resources including a K9 and a judge-approved warrant illustrates how deputies respond to trespass calls that can lead to more serious criminal allegations.

Court processing and any additional charges or disclosures remain pending. Lane County residents seeking more information can monitor Lane County Sheriff’s Office briefings and upcoming court dockets for developments in the Pruett and Johnston cases.