Man Assaulted in Home Invasion

Police say the suspect was intoxicated.

Waylon Clayton Blanchette

(IDANHA OR) - At approximately 11:30pm, Monday night, Marion County Deputies were called to a disturbance at a residence in the 100 block of Main Street, Idanha. A neighbor had observed a male subject entering the residence and knew he didn't belong there.

He called 911. At about the same time, the owner of the house also called 911 saying that he was confronted by a man who assaulted him and tried to strangle him.

The homeowner said the man appeared intoxicated. He tried to steal some prescription medications from the victim and ran from the house following the confrontation.

Witnesses reported him running toward Highway 22. Several deputies, including canine Deputy Jason Bernards and Rolo, arrived in the area to search for the suspect. Rolo immediately began to track the suspect's scent from the victim's residence. He followed it across the Santiam River, and again picked up the scent on the Linn County side.

Rolo and Bernards followed the scene for about a mile until Rolo stopped at the front door of a home in the 300 block of Blossom Avenue. Deputies ultimately contacted Waylon Clayton Blanchette, 33, who lived at the house. He appeared intoxicated and matched the description of the suspect in the assault and burglary.

Blanchette was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of Burglary 1, Assault 4 and strangulation. He is also being held without bail on a Parole Violation. He will be in court this afternoon at 3:00pm.

Source: Marion County Sheriff