MEDIA RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Incident: Assault and Kidnapping Suspect arrested with SWAT assistance
Location: 500 block S. 72nd Street
Case Number: 25-2316
Date/Time: April 4th, 2025 / 9:48pm
More Information: Lieutenant George Crolly, gcrolly@springfield-or.gov
Completed By: Lieutenant George Crolly
INVOLVED SUSPECT: Linson Lavell Johnson, 54 year old male
NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT:
On April 4th, 2025, at approximately 9:48pm, Springfield Police patrol officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of S. 72nd Street for a report of an unknown man with a gun who was assaulting a woman and a man in the house. The male who reported the incident contacted a neighbor but departed prior to police arrival. When officers arrived, they initially contacted the male victim in front of the house. That man was helped away from the house by officers and transported by medics to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Officers then surrounded the house and called for any other residents to exit. The female victim exited the house and reported she had been assaulted by a man who was armed with a handgun The woman said she tried to leave multiple times, but the suspect did not allow her to leave. The woman did not know the man’s true name, only knowing him as “Goldie”. The woman suffered significant injuries to her head and face. She reported the man was still inside the house. The woman was also transported to McKenzie Willamette Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Officers maintained observation on the house and two officers reported seeing an unknown person walking around inside the first floor of the residence. Attempts were made to call the man out of the house, but he did not respond. SPD SWAT and Crisis Negotiators were called to the scene to assist.
With the assistance of an SPD Intel analyst, through interviews and records checks, officers were eventually able to identify the suspect as Linson Lavell Johnson. A criminal records check revealed Johnson had a felony parole violation warrant for his arrest issued by the Oregon State Parole and Probation Department and another warrant from Albany Municipal Court. Further checking revealed Johnson was a convicted felon for multiple felonies. Officers also developed probable cause to arrest Johnson on multiple violent crimes stemming from the incident. Officers gained additional information suggesting Johnson carries a handgun with him at all times.
As the investigation continued, using various de-escalation techniques, SPD SWAT and Crisis negotiators, via loudspeaker hails, made numerous attempts to get Johnson to surrender peacefully to police. This negotiation went on for over five (5) hours, while officers continued the investigation and Detectives applied for a Search Warrant for the residence. Officers continued to see subtle movement inside the residence, confirming Johnson was still inside.
At approximately 4:10am on April 5th, after obtaining a signed search warrant, the SPD Drone team entered the residence to do a check for the suspect. Additional admonishments to surrender were made, to no avail. While the drone search was helpful in determining where the suspect was not, the physical layout of the home, as well as the presence of several closed doors, necessitated entry by SPD SWAT to locate the suspect. SWAT entered the house and began a methodical search and at approximately 5:35am, SWAT officers located Johnson, hiding in a closet inside the home. He was taken into custody without further incident. Detectives processed the scene and a handgun was located.
Johnson was transported to and lodged at the Lane County jail on his warrants and the below listed charges.
CHARGES:
Assault in the 4th degree
Strangulation
Coercion
Menacing
Kidnapping in the 2nd degree
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
