More than 3,000 glass floats are hidden every year on the beaches of Lincoln City as part of the Finders Keepers event run by Explore Lincoln City. Floats are hidden above the high tide line, intended to be easy to find. (Richard Bacon/Explore Lincoln City)LINCOLN CITY – Well, Lincoln City’s attempts to lure tourists to the beach to find one of the glass floats purchased by the city and hidden by volunteers may have reached a boiling point.
Lincoln City police arrested Michelle D. Evans, 62, of Corvallis on Wednesday on accusations she attacked a 46-year-old man with a 3- to 4-foot piece of driftwood as they raced for one of the hidden floats on the beach near Siletz Bay Lodge. Evans was later charged with attempted unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault, harassment and second-degree disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors.
The city’s Finders Keepers program places 3,000 glass floats along Lincoln City beaches every year as of its tourism promotion. The travel writer for The Oregonian/OregonLive recently wrote that the popular program is even “turning the treasure hunt into something of a competitive sport.”
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Lincoln County circuit court by Lincoln City Officer Zachary Rigg, the incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when Evans and the victim called 9-1-1 to report the fight. Evans told police that she and the man both noticed the float, that he ran past her and pushed her aside to get the float. She told police she had no recollection she hit the man with the stick.
But Rigg found a witness who saw the man running in front of Evans, who was raising the driftwood over her head to hit him. The witness told police that she did not see the man push Evans aside. The witness told police that when she later saw the man his rain jacket was “torn to shreds in the back.”
Evans was arraigned on the charges Thursday, released with conditions and a next court appearance scheduled June 1.
To shreds , you say?
I mean you cannot make this up, this sounds like a straight out of Oregon story. We used to go and hunt for those and never found one. She needs to receive a strong sentence as an example.
Over a glass ball? Sure they’re pretty, but its a glass ball people. Grow up and get some perspective. Unhinged.
Sounds pretty pathetic. One big reason I don’t participate in these events. Too much competition.
This story made me decide that it’s not worth the trip, if crowds & violence could be what I find instead of a glass float.
My brother-in-law was a ranger at South Beach State Park near Newport. He went out on that beach just before daybreak after a huge storm the night before and found 11 Japanese fishing-boat glass floats — 2 very large ones and a few medium-size ones, as well as the more common small ones.
The guy ran in front of an older woman to get a trinket? Bad behavior all around.
Thats not what the witness said
This is just the beginning – tip of the problem. Tourists come to Lincoln City in search of the finders keepers glass floats. They come from long distances. Some from Idaho, some from Washington and California. I’ve even met a few from as far away, as Florida.
After investing in travel, lodging, and days searching, the majority go home empty handed. Thats when people start stealing anything from beachfront private properties. It is a continuous crime problem Lincoln City tends to ignore. Tourists deciding they’re not going home empty handed. I have at least $10,000/yr of vandalism and theft caused by this program. Continuous trespassers, claiming they’re looking for glass floats 75 feet above the sea level in the yard. If it’s not locked down, it will be stolen.
We shouldn’t let one incident take away from the magic and fun of the Finders Keepers program. I think it is an amazing way to attract people to Lincoln City. I am proud when people I know from other cities talk about how much they love coming here, and the fun of the hunt. And let’s be honest, tourism is our lifeblood. Thank you, LC, for the beauty and excitement this program provides.
A riot ensued today on the beaches of Lincoln City as crowds fought tooth and nail to grab the popular Furby Floats before they were gone. One lady was removed on a stretcher, heard to mumble, “I thought I was getting a Beanie Baby…”. Law enforcement officials are suggesting to city officials that next year the city introduce Cabbage Patch Floats, as they are loving the overtime.