Arrest In Oregon That Sparked Million Dollar Lawsuit

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Duration: 1:25 Views: 4.3K Submitted: 1 day ago Submitted by:

Eugene, Oregon — On January 11, 2025, Eugene police responded to a trespassing call on the 3000 block of River Road. The owner of a vacant property scheduled for demolition reported a man removing scrap boards and metal. The owner had previously invited neighbor Daniel Bickel to clear the materials. Bickel informed 41-year-old Jehoshaphat Commandest that he could collect the scrap. The owner stated Commandest was present without authorization.
Officers Stephen Lahm and Lindsey Collier arrived near noon. Commandest stood near a pickup truck on adjacent property and stated he believed the property was abandoned and was willing to return the materials. Court filings and dashcam video indicate he was handcuffed without resistance and escorted toward a patrol vehicle. The filings state that while restrained, Lahm struck him in the face seven times, briefly applied pressure to his throat, and activated a Taser in drive-stun mode twice for a combined total of approximately 17 seconds. Commandest was transported to Lane County Jail.
He was charged with second-degree criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Eugene Municipal Court records show he entered a guilty plea to the trespass charge in December 2025. The resisting arrest charge was dismissed. Commandest submitted a complaint after the incident. The Eugene Police Auditor’s office sustained findings that Lahm’s use of force violated department policy. Lahm resigned on November 21, 2025, and is under review by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Collier remains employed by the department.
On July 30, 2026, Commandest filed a civil lawsuit in Lane County Circuit Court against the city, the police department, and the two officers. The suit seeks damages not to exceed $1 million and alleges excessive force, negligence, and battery. It lists claimed injuries of a traumatic brain injury, ruptured blood vessels in the left eye, and facial bruising. These claims remain unadjudicated. 
Sources: Eugene Register-Guard, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Eugene Municipal Court records, Lane County Circuit Court filings, Eugene Police Auditor records.

Categories: Police

Tags: oregon police

0 +1 JobyFluorine 4 hours ago

Didn't they have guns? Why'd they even arrest him?

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3 +1 Slickwad 7 hours ago

He's lucky, I would have pumped his Samoan ass full of lead.

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5 +1 kma8675309 10 hours ago

How can you sue for something if you DON'T HAVE A BRAIN to start with?

It lists claimed injuries of a traumatic brain injury

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2 +1 djdiscshooter 14 hours ago

cop went straight up mike tyson and he ate those punches like its lunch

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1 +1 Coolestjunglemonkey 19 hours ago

Bzzzzzt

15 +1 HitlerWasBased 19 hours ago

why not just comply?

8 +1 Quint_Beastwood 1 day ago

Feelgood video alert!!!

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12 +1 Panzerdivizzion 1 day ago

All chimpanzees get aggressive as they grow older.

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15 +1 winsorcleveland 1 day ago

That lazy fat fuk deserves nothing.

0 +1 JobyFluorine 4 hours ago

@winsorcleveland A fat lip and lumpy skull.

10 +1 QuartPlus8oz 1 day ago

Samoan fat fuck is obviously a religious zealot with a name like that. He got lucky to walk to the back of the cop car. Cops should have came full force and loaded for bear, but respect for that collar.

11 +1 uberschadenfreude 1 day ago

De-escalation is a corner stone of law enforcement. If a threat is subdued a continued use of violence brings disgrace not only on you but the badge you swore upon when taking the job.

Don’t resist is the cornerstone of civilians, but don’t use undue force is the Moses tablet of law enforcement.