Florence Man Arrested After Dunes City Trespass, Fire, and Knife Threat

A brush pile ignited on private property along Clear Lake Road in Dunes City set off a multi-agency foot pursuit that ended with a Florence man tased and booked into Lane County Jail on six charges, including unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.

A Lane County Sheriff's deputy assigned to the Dunes responded at 11 a.m. on March 4 to the 83700 block of Clear Lake Road after a resident reported that a man had entered their property, lit a brush pile on fire, and threatened the property owner. Deputies identified the suspect as Dustin Steven Lafrance, 34, of Florence, who was also wanted in other cases.

When the deputy attempted to detain Lafrance on Clear Lake Road, Lafrance pulled out a knife. The deputy avoided injury and separated himself from Lafrance, who then ran north on foot along Clear Lake Road.

Florence Police Department officers and Oregon State Police troopers joined the pursuit. A Florence Police officer located Lafrance on Huckleberry Lane and deployed a taser. An Oregon State Police trooper assisted with detaining him, and Lafrance was taken into custody without further incident.

Lafrance was lodged at Lane County Jail on charges of resisting arrest, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, reckless burning, second-degree theft from a prior case, and probation violations related to prior convictions. Jail records confirmed he remained in custody as of March 6. The Lane County Sheriff's Office expressed gratitude to Florence Police and Oregon State Police for their assistance.

The Dunes City arrest was one of two separate enforcement actions in the Florence area that Wednesday morning. About four hours earlier, at approximately 7 a.m., the Sheriff's Special Response Team served a search warrant at a home in the 2200 block of 12th Street in Florence as part of multiple burglary investigations. Three people were arrested. The primary suspect, 35-year-old Jason Scott Sprinkle of Florence, attempted to flee on foot while armed with a knife before a detective deployed a taser and took him into custody. Deputies recovered stolen property connected to several cases during the search. Sprinkle faces charges including theft, burglary, criminal mischief, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

The two incidents are not reported to be connected. Authorities have indicated the investigation into the Dunes City incident remains ongoing and additional charges against Lafrance are possible.