On May 9, 2026, at approximately 10:25 a.m., deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 223, between the communities of Wren and Kings Valley. The driver and sole occupant of a 1987 Ford Ranger, Tyler Allen Smouse, 18, of Philomath, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
On May 8, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a unified command involving the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Philomath Fire Department (PFD) responded to a structure fire near Northwest Sixth Street and Main Street in Philomath.
Benton County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce a test of the Linn-Benton ALERT system on Saturday, March 7th, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
The test will cover all of Benton County. All traditional land phone lines in the 9-1-1 database will receive the message. Those who have registered other devices with Linn-Benton ALERT will also receive the test message.
The Linn-Benton ALERT Emergency Notification System is a mass notification system that allows public safety officials to provide rapid notifications to Linn and Benton County residents of emergencies, evacuations, and other urgent events.
There will be no reason to call the Sheriff’s Office once you receive the message; please do not dial 9-1-1.
Residents can sign up for the Linn-Benton ALERT system as well as learn about emergency preparedness at https://sheriff.bentoncountyor.gov/linn-benton-alert/. As a reminder, each person in the household hoping to receive alerts will need their own profile/account. After signing up for the alerts you will receive all emergency-related notifications related to your location.
For questions on the mass notification system, email emergencymanagement@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has identified the man found deceased in the Willamette River on November 29, 2025, as Jonathan Avery Smith, 34, of Albany.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is releasing photographs of two tattoos found on an unidentified adult male who was discovered deceased in the Willamette River on November 29, 2025. Investigators are sharing these images due to the absence of leads and the urgent need to identify the individual.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an adult male found deceased in the Willamette River on November 29, 2025.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is proud to host the 31st Annual Shop with a Cop event this holiday season. This long-standing tradition strengthens positive connections between youth and local law enforcement, offering children a fun and memorable shopping experience alongside officers and social workers.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is warning the public about a recent scam targeting families of current Adults in Custody (AIC).
Benton County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce a test of the Linn-Benton ALERT system on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at around 1:00 p.m.
The Corvallis Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), in partnership with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), is pleased to offer an upcoming CERT training course this fall. This essential training is designed to boost emergency preparedness and empower residents with critical response skills.