John Chiv: A man dropped off in front of Mad River ER ends up being a homicide case

Aug 28, 2015

A man dropped off in front of Mad River ER ends up being a homicide case

On the night of April 28, 2015, HCSO Deputy Dennis Gagnon was assigned to the Mckinleville area. Around midnight, he was giving his canine partner a break, he was "right in front of the ER entrance at Mad River Hospital. An unknown person drove up in a small sedan, went in, people came out and took a person inside in a wheelchair." Deputy Gagnon spoke with the person who drove the car. Later he learned the identity of the man taken into the hospital, it was David Ganfield.

Deputy Gagnon left the hospital after speaking with hospital staff who told him, "Mr. Ganfield had extensive injuries." Deputy Gagnon, the first People's witness for the preliminary hearing for Jonas Semore, testified in response to questions by Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees.

Deputy Gagnon learned that the driver of the sedan and Ganfield had come from the Blue Lake area. He located the sedan at the gas station at Blue Lake Casino around 1:30 a.m. No one was inside the sedan, he went into the gas station. He talked with the clerk, who pointed to the area where the slot machines were and "pointed to a male subject and said he came from the car."

Deputy Gagnon identified that "male subject" as Semore in court. Semore did not agree to talk to Deputy Gagnon. The driver Deputy Gagnon had seen at the hospital entered the gas station and spoke to Semore. He told Deputy Gagnon that he had been given $ 20 by "an unknown male and female" to drive Ganfield to the hospital and that this conversation took place at the Patriot gas station in the Blue Lake area. Deputy Gagnon said the driver's name was Randy Cook (also known as Randall Cook).

Cook told Deputy Gagnon that he did not know Mr. Ganfield and he did not know the unknown man and woman, After dropping Ganfield off at the hospital, Cook said he went to a house in Blue Lake, he "lent his car to this chick" and he was at the gas station near Blue Lake Casino to get his car back.

Deputy Gagnon took photos of both Cook and Semore's hand and the car was towed for evidence. Deputy Gagnon said he saw some discoloration on the passgenger's seat which he thought was blood. Deputy Walker who was also on duty that night took custody of the sedan. Deputy Gagnon then went to the Patriot gas station to "locate the unknown male and female and investigate the crime scene." He spoke to "a female subject named Aubrey" and asked her if she had seen Cook. She said she had not seen Cook that evening and was not aware of any disturbance. She was not sure what time she had arrived at the gas station but she had been there. Deputy Gagnon asked her if she had" any guests at her home and she said no." Her home is where Cook saiid eh had met the unknown man and woman. "She did not indicate whether she had seen Randy Cook ." Deputy Gagnon returned to the Blue Lake Casino gas station and spoke to Deputy Walker.

Deputy Gagnon said that Deputy Walker told him that "Mr. Semore had purchased a donut and brought it over to where Deputy Walker was waiting for the tow truck. At some point Deputy Walker noticed some discoloration on Mr. Semore's shoe, which he thought was blood. He was unable to collect the shoe."

Ms. Kathleen Bryson, who represents Semore then conducted her cross examination of Deputy Gagnon. She asked Deputy Gagnon about an injury of Ganfield's left forehead. Deputy Gagnon said he did not recall. Ms. Bryson showed Deputy Gagnon two photos, defense exhibits A and B, Deputy Gagnon looked at one phot and described "a cut/laceration on the forehard" and estimated it as "an inch long, left of center". Ms. Bryson asked about swelling. Gagnon acknowledged some swelling and said that "hospital staff was concerned about the swelling inside Ganfield's head."

Ms. Bryson said that he had written 2:30 in his report when he arrived at Blue Lake Casino, Deputy Gagnon said he did not list time, she made him check his report, no time was listed. Ms. Bryson then got Deputy Gagnon and he said he did not swab Cook's hand for blood and did not take any clothing into evidence.