Bend, OR – A Redmond transient sought in connection with last week’s fatal shooting was arrested early Sunday morning after a tense standoff with law enforcement. Keith Nolen, 49, was taken into custody following several hours of negotiations, a tear-gas deployment, and the use of a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office K-9.
Nolen had been wanted in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old River Feldmiller, whose body was found on Tuesday, December 10, in the passenger seat of a 2017 Ford F-250 pickup truck. The truck was located near a homeless encampment off East Antler Avenue and SE 11th Street in Redmond, sparking a manhunt for Nolen, who was considered armed and dangerous by law enforcement officials.
The arrest followed an intense search, culminating late Saturday night when authorities located Nolen in a travel trailer just north of Highway 126, near the intersection of NE Ninth and Antler Avenue. Officers from the Redmond Police Department, along with members of the Central Oregon Major Incident Team, had been working tirelessly throughout the weekend to track him down.
“After a prolonged standoff, we were able to bring Mr. Nolen into custody without further incident,” said Lt. Eric Beckwith of the Redmond Police Department. “We utilized a variety of resources, including negotiators and a K-9 unit, to safely resolve the situation.”
The standoff, which began late Saturday, saw Nolen holed up inside the trailer, refusing to surrender. Law enforcement officers surrounding the area attempted to negotiate with him for hours, but after those efforts were unsuccessful, authorities deployed tear gas in an attempt to force him out. Nolen was eventually apprehended after a brief struggle, during which he was bitten by the K-9.
He was transported to the Deschutes County Jail and is facing charges related to Feldmiller’s death, including second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities say Nolen is being held without bail as the investigation continues.
The fatal shooting has rocked the local community, especially in the homeless population where both Feldmiller and Nolen were known to have lived in recent months. Feldmiller’s family has been notified, and Redmond police are expected to release more details about the investigation in the coming days.
As of now, Nolen is expected to appear in court later this week to face formal charges. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward.
