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Robert M. Lehner, Chief of Police <br /> Eugene Police Department <br /> 777 Pearl Street <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br /> October 4, 2006 <br /> Dear Chief Lehner, <br /> We are writing to request an adequate and appropriate response from EPD <br /> regarding an ongoing situation in our Acorn Park neighborhood. <br /> Approximately ten weeks ago two "homeless" individuals, Kyle Thomas Coughlin <br /> and his mother, Rain, began appearing in the Acorn Park neighborhood. The pair stated <br /> they had fallen on hard times and had taken to living in their car. A number of neighborhood <br /> families reached out to them by employing them in odd jobs, giving them food and <br /> materials for their pets, helping wash their clothes and taking them into their home over a <br /> weekend. <br /> Then, a couple weeks ago when a neighborhood family actively sought to help <br /> them find housing, a different picture came to Tight. It was learned that Mr. Coughlin is a <br /> heroin addict with a criminal history of theft and DUI. He refuses available treatment and <br /> both he and his mother declined available housing as this would require they be separated <br /> and that he would no longer be in a position to actively maintain his addiction to narcotics. <br /> During the past two months there has been a rash of burglaries and car break -ins at <br /> homes near the park. Although no break -in has been tied to him, Mr. Coughlin has been <br /> seen walking the side streets in the Acorn Park neighborhood. When asked for whom or <br /> what he was looking, he didn't give an answer. It is very strongly suspected that he has <br /> been "casing" residences during the day when people are at work. <br /> Approximately one month ago, a neighbor observed Mr. Coughlin using a syringe <br /> sitting in his vehicle next to the park. She called EPD and an officer was dispatched to <br /> investigate. Rain, Mr. Coughlin's mother, told the officer a story that her son was aspirating <br /> a spider bite on her arm and that this was what the neighbor observed. Apparently, the <br /> officer believed her story and left the scene without taking any action. Reportedly, Mr. <br /> Coughlin has abscesses on his neck where he injects his heroin. A cursory examination of <br /> his arms and neck, to our knowledge, has not yet been made in any of the EPD contacts. <br /> Recently, when a neighbor confronted them about their behavior and its impact <br /> upon the neighborhood, Mr. Coughlin discovered the neighbor's address. He and his <br /> mother went to this neighbor's home, pounded on the front door to gain entrance and <br /> destroyed some plants in front of their home. The neighbors wife over heard Rain, Mr. <br /> Coughlin's mother, suggest they "try the back door." They were not able to get to the back <br /> of the house because the backyard gates were locked. The husband, very concerned for <br /> their safety, called 911. EPD responded, arrested Mr. Coughlin for an unrelated charge and <br /> took him to jail. He was released the same day. On another occasion, Mr. Coughlin <br /> became threatening and verbally abusive to a neighbor when she refused to "give his car <br /> battery a jump." He has been observed urinating on her property in full view of people in <br /> the park and has been observed dumping containers of bodily fluids in the parking area of <br /> the park. <br />