On Wednesday, July 15, Caleb Zink was sentenced to 81 months incarceration following a 12-person jury trial.

On March 30, 2019, Zink requested law enforcement’s presence at property on West Buchanan in Burns. Burns Detective Robby Tiller and now Trooper Brennan Pilon responded. When officers arrived, Zink was armed with an AR-15 and a semi-automatic pistol. Zink was irate about Department of Human Services (DHS) involvement in ensuring the welfare of his significant other’s children. During this contact, Zink made multiple threats and specifically threatened to treat DHS employees “like terrorist and put a .556 round in their dome.”

On April 2, 2019, Zink was contacted outside of Safeway due to the fact that he was openly carrying a firearm at the location. During this contact, Zink was trespassed from DHS property. Zink proceeded to threaten to shoot DHS employees if entry was made onto the property on West Buchanan and warned, “I swear to God, they do not want this holy war they are trying to bring on themselves.”

The following day, Zink requested law enforcement contact. When Pilon and Tiller arrived at the West Buchanan address, Zink could be seen hiding on the property. He was wearing a black balaclava, tactical vest with multiple magazines, a cross-draw pistol, a drop-leg holster, multiple knives, and an AR-15. Zink aggressively approached two officers and proceeded to scream about DHS and began giving a countdown threat directed at law enforcement.  Zink had his finger on the trigger of his AR-15 as the tirade continued while Pilon and Tiller attempted to defuse the situation. A moment presented itself when officers acted quickly closing the distance; thus, detaining Zink.

Harney County Deputy District Attorney Ryan Hughes prosecuted the case. Zink was charged with obstructing governmental or judicial administration and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon with a five-years firearm enhancement minimum.

On Sept. 24, 2019, at the conclusion of a two-day jury trial, a Harney County 12-person jury found Zink guilty of all charges.  The jury also answered “yes” to the special question, “Did the defendant personally threaten to use a firearm during the commission of this felony?”

Zink was released, pending sentencing, on Oct. 4, 2019. He failed to appear for sentencing.

Zink was believed to have fled the state of Oregon. Harney County law enforcement contacted federal authorities for assistance in locating Zink.  Zink was tracked and eventually located in Fort Smith, Ark.