What started as a peaceful morning treasure hunt on the Oregon coast reportedly turned into something a lot more chaotic.
A Corvallis woman is now facing assault charges after police say she struck a man multiple times with a piece of driftwood during a dispute over a prized glass float on a Lincoln City beach.
According to court documents, officers were called to the beach near Siletz Bay Lodge after receiving separate calls from both people involved in the incident. When they arrived, they found a situation that sounds more like a bizarre coastal showdown than your typical beach day.
The man told officers he had been hit several times in the back with a large piece of driftwood while the two were racing toward a glass float, one of the collectible orbs hidden along the shoreline as part of Lincoln City’s popular “Finders Keepers” program.
He also reported that his jacket had been ripped during the encounter, allegedly as the woman pulled on it during the struggle.
Police identified the woman as 64-year-old Michelle Dorcas Evans. During her interview with officers, Evans reportedly said the man had been behind her when they both spotted the glass float and claimed he ran past her, pushing her aside.
However, Evans told police she had no recollection of hitting the man with the stick.
Officers noted that during their conversation, Evans was still holding the piece of driftwood, described as about one inch in diameter and roughly three to four feet long.
A witness told police a different version of events. According to the affidavit, the witness said the man was already ahead when Evans lifted the driftwood above her head and struck him on the upper back. The witness also stated they never saw the man push Evans prior to the altercation.
After the incident, the witness described the man’s coat as being torn up in the back.
Evans is now facing several charges, including fourth-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
If you’re not familiar, Lincoln City’s glass floats aren’t just random beach finds. Since 1999, the city has hidden thousands of handcrafted glass orbs along its coastline as part of the “Finders Keepers” tradition, turning an ordinary walk on the beach into a treasure hunt.
The floats are highly sought after by both locals and visitors, and finding one can feel like striking gold.
But as this incident shows, sometimes the competition can get a little… intense.
Probably a good reminder that no matter how cool the prize is, it’s still just a beach find.
