Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted with a civil eviction Tuesday morning at a residence in the 200 block of North Ninth Street in Philomath after receiving information suggesting the tenant may have been armed and unwilling to comply with the eviction order.
The operation drew attention from nearby residents who had seen deputies outside of the home with weapons drawn.
Benton County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jaimi Glass said the additional show of force was taken as a precaution given the information deputies had received beforehand from the homeowner. The tenant was not in the house when deputies arrived and Glass reported that there was no threat to the public.
The homeowner changed the locks following the eviction and the former tenant no longer has access to the residence, Glass said.