Hot Springs sword swinger arrested

RAINBOW: Police caught up with a fugitive on Monday, arresting 33-year-old Andrew Dimmick of Crawfordsville on charges of Reckless Endangering, Eluding Police, and warrants for Kidnapping and a Felon Possession of a Firearm. According to police, Lane County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Oregon State Police troopers were called to Terwilliger Hot Springs around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, after receiving a caller reporting a subject was huffing from a nitrous oxide tank, swinging a double-handed sword, and making threats.

The man had left before the arrival of authorities but was then observed driving back toward the hot springs. A deputy got behind the white Kia Sportage and caught up to it on a gravel road off FS Road 19. Despite several commands, the male subject refused to exit the vehicle and the chase resumed when the vehicle sped away before coming to a stop when a spur road was blocked by fallen trees.

After several hours of searching in difficult terrain with a Sheriff’s Office K9, two Eugene Police dogs, and a drone, police were unable to locate Dimmick. Police continued to look for him without success over the weekend.

That changed on Monday morning when a man matching Dimmick’s description entered the Blue Sky Market in Rainbow around 6:30 a.m. made a purchase and asked about bus service.

Alerted by a call from a customer, deputies, and troopers responded to the scene within a half hour. They located the suspect in a port-a-potty in the parking lot, took him into custody, and transported him to the Lane County Jail in Eugene.