Sheriff: Coquille, Ore. man arrested, thinks he is having a 'conversation with Trump'

RIVERTON, Ore. -- A Coquille man was arrested Sunday after he attempted to punch a Coos County Sheriff's deputy's patrol vehicle passing by on Hwy 42 - and had a conversation with the president while staring into one of the patrol vehicle's flashing blue lights.

Coos County Sheriff's Office says around 11:05 a.m., 40-year-old David Jenkins jumped from the shoulder of the roadway into the southbound lane of traffic and tried to punch the moving patrol truck.

The deputy steered into the unoccupied oncoming lane to avoid hitting the man before turning around.

As the deputy approached, the man again jumped into the southbound lane of traffic facing the deputy.

"He stood in the roadway in a sort of spread eagle fashion and waved both of his hands from his wrists as though inviting the deputy to approach him," the sheriff's office said. "He was also yelling nonsense at the deputy."

The deputy activated his overhead lights and, when he exited the patrol vehicle, Jenkins approached him.

Police say he spoke about several things all in one breath and in "one very long sentence."

"He was saying someone was watching him, someone was dead, his backpack was gone, and several other things all at once," the sheriff's office said.

His skin was sweaty and his mouth was constantly in movement, consistent with what is known as Bruxism, the report said.

Based on those observations and what the deputy knew of Jenkins' history, he believed he was under the influence of a substance, most likely methamphetamine, according to the report.

The deputy told Jenkins to step out of the roadway.

"Although he complied, it was as though he immediately forgot and again walked across the white fog line into the lane of traffic again," police said.

At that point he was placed under arrest and secured in handcuffs. The deputy waited for another police responder who had the capability to transport him to the Coos County Jail.

While waiting for Coquille Police to arrive and assist, the deputy stood in close proximity to Jenkins and maintained a physical hold on his arm, the report said. Several times, he tried to walk away from the deputy and back into traffic.

"At one point while waiting, Mr. Jenkins placed his nose about an inch away from the deputy's driver’s side tail light," the sheriff's office said. "It had a blue flashing light, which was inside of the tail light and part of the emergency lighting the truck was equipped with.

"David Jenkins looked into the blue flashing light and had a conversation with Donald Trump, which included reporting a number of suspicious incidents which only made any sense in Mr. Jenkins' altered state of mind."

Jenkins was transported to the jail, where he refused to cooperate with staff, the report said. He refused to answer booking questions and repeatedly failed to keep his hands on the counter and to follow other instructions from staff.

He also refused to remove his coat and sweatshirt for the booking process. Deputies assisted him in removing these items after which point he was placed in a holding cell.

Based on the investigation, police charged Jenkins with violating ORS 166.025 - Disorderly Conduct II - by engaging in threatening behavior, obstructing vehicular traffic on a public roadway, and creating a hazardous condition for other persons traveling through the area.