LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — Lake Oswego police served a search warrant at the Lake Oswego home of newly elected Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside. The search warrant is connected to an investigation involving identity theft, Fireside's attorney confirmed to KGW.
Fireside ran for Position 4 on the board against incumbent Mark Shull and won the race with 51.74% of the votes. Shull received 48.26%.
The search warrant was signed Oct. 30, a week before the November election, related to an ongoing investigation of aggravated identity theft and aggravated first-degree theft, involving an elderly woman, according to reporting by The Oregonian. Clackamas County Circuit Judge Jeffrey S. Jones signed the warrant, according to Fireside's attorney, Mark C. Cogan.
Cogan told KGW that Fireside has not been charged with a crime.
"Melissa Fireside is presumed innocent. We have not seen the evidence that has been gathered in this investigation. We have not even seen the affidavit which resulted in the search warrant being issued. We ask the public to withhold judgment until all the facts are known," Cogan said in an email to KGW.
The Clackamas County District Attorney's Office told KGW that due to any potential conflicts of interest, it asked that the case be sent to the Oregon Department of Justice, which agreed to take the case for any prosecution that may result from the investigation.
The Oregon Department of Justice said they cannot share any information, as it is an ongoing investigation.
The Lake Oswego Police Department made brief comment on the warrant Wednesday, confirming the existence of an investigation but not elaborating on the circumstances.
"Information has recently been circulating about an investigation by the Lake Oswego Police Department into allegations against Clackamas County Commissioner-Elect Melissa Fireside," the agency said. "She has not been charged with any crimes, but we can confirm that there is an active investigation involving Ms. Fireside.
"As this continues to be an ongoing investigation, we will not discuss the details of the case so as to maintain the integrity of the investigation as well as the rights of those involved."
The county board is made up of five people who live in the county and are elected for terms of four years. They set county policies, approve department budgets, and have the power to send countywide measures to the ballot for a vote of the people.
