June 15, 2024 7:50 a.m.

Roseburg Police cited a man Thursday, after contacting him at 8:00 a.m. near the Oak Street Bridge, where there was a large cavern dug into the riverbank.

An RPD report said it appears the property is under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Department of Transportation. The cavern had straight vertical sides, and measured about eight feet deep, eight feet across and eight feet from front to back. The 54-year- old was also reportedly working on digging a tunnel near the back of the cavern. The man was unable to explain why he had dug the hole, other than he likes to dig.

The report said the repair costs to fill in the hole are unknown at this time, but a rough estimate from ODOT came in at around $3,000. The man was released after being cited for first-degree criminal mischief.