Dec. 3, 2021 — Friday morning, the Florence Police Department received a tip from a citizen that a person of interest in a recent crime, Robert Gavin Bowers, had been spotted at a storage facility in the 3300 block of Highway 101. Officers quickly responded and located him. 

Bowers was detained and transferred to the custody of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office without incident.

Bowers has been identified as the suspect in a stabbing assault that occurred on Thanksgiving Day. He became involved in a verbal altercation with two people on an ATV and attacked them with a knife. He slashed the male victim in the abdomen and face, then stabbed the female victim in the face. Both victims were unknown to Bowers. They are recovering from their injuries. 

Detectives are still working to determine remaining facts, such as a motive.

Bowers will be lodged at the Lane County Jail and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office will provide an update when charges are determined.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office also expressed their deepest gratitude to the Florence Police Department, Oregon State Police and all of the citizens that provided tips in this case.

*UPDATE* 

Bowers has been lodged at the Lane County Jail on the charges of Assault in the 1st Degree and Assault in the 2nd Degree.