Property and Evidence

 The property and evidence tech provides safe storage for all items seized by Wallowa County Deputies.  This property and evidence unit currently stores numerous items of evidence, found property, and property identified as “safekeeping”.

Storage and Retrieval

Evidence:  Wait 30 days after adjudication of your case to contact the Property/Evidence unit for release information.  The property to be released will need authorization from the Wallowa County District Attorney. If your name and your correct address is given to the deputy at the time the receipt is given to you, you should receive a letter from the property deputy notifying you to make an appointment to retrieve your property. 

Safekeeping: Items held for 30 days for pick up by the owner.  After thirty days the items may be destroyed if the owner cannot be contacted.

Weapons: Prior to weapons being released, a background check may be performed to ascertain your eligibility to receive these weapons.

Property is released by appointment only.  If you are in need of making an appointment please contact the Property Room deputy at 541-426-3131  ext. 2408.  Please leave a message if no answer and the deputy will call you back to make arrangements for the return of property. 

Some property cannot be returned to the rightful owner due to many reasons, mainly because the owner cannot be located. .  This property is most often times destroyed after all attempts to locate the owner are exhausted. Sometimes property is forfeited to the WCSO and is sold at auction.

Found Property

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF FINDERS AND OWNERS

      98.005 Rights and duties of finder of money or goods. (1) If any person finds money or goods valued at $100 or more, and if the owner of the money or goods is unknown, such person, within 10 days after the date of the finding, shall give notice of the finding in writing to the county clerk of the county in which the money or goods was found. Within 20 days after the date of the finding, the finder of the money or goods shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county a notice of the finding once each week for two consecutive weeks. Each such notice shall state the general description of the money or goods found, the name and address of the finder and final date before which such goods may be claimed.

      (2) If no person appears and establishes ownership of the money or goods prior to the expiration of three months after the date of the notice to the county clerk under subsection (1) of this section, the finder shall be the owner of the money or goods. [1973 c.642 §1; 1989 c.522 §1]

   98.025 Rights of owner. If an owner of money or goods found by another person appears and establishes a claim to such money or goods within the time period prescribed by ORS 98.005 or 98.015, whichever applies, the owner shall have restitution of such money or goods or their value upon payment of all costs and charges incurred in the finding, giving of notice, care and custody of such money or goods. [1973 c.642 §3]