Lincoln City Citizens Express Concern About Animal Abuse And Rising Costs To Citizens

Update: According to Lincoln City Police Nicholas Mumma has been arrested and according to the jail roster he faces charges of Animal Abuse.

Public comment during the Lincoln City Council meetng drew sharp criticism of police conduct, rising utility costs, and city financial priorities. After approving liquor licenses and minutes without debate, the council opened the floor to public comment, where four speakers raised concerns that ranged from public safety and animal abuse to Pacific Power rate hikes and the city’s handling of deferred maintenance at City Hall.

Police accused of ignoring animal abuse complaints

Jeremy Pierce, a Lincoln City homeowner and disabled veteran, delivered an emotional and sharply worded rebuke of the Lincoln City Police Department (LCPD), and their handling of animal abuse complaints.

Pierce focused his comments on what he described as ongoing threats to public safety and animal welfare linked to a man he identified as Nicholas Mumma. He accused LCPD of ignoring repeated complaints, dismissing documented reports, and issuing a press release that labeled concerned residents as “liars” and “vigilantes.”

On July 18th the LCPD sent out a press release reminding citizens to "think critically but absolutely support the right of Americans to seek change, peacefully protest, and live with the peace of mind that mob-rule does not govern our community." They also reported that over the last 9 months LCPD has received 21 complaints regarding that one individual related to animal care. Throughout this period the Lincoln City Police Department has physically evaluated the dog in question 5 times, each time finding the dog to be uninjured.

“There is no vigilante mob,” Pierce said. “There are only desperate citizens doing the police’s job for them by reporting legitimate threats to public safety and animal welfare.” Pierce described multiple incidents involving Mumma, including:

An incident where Mumma allegedly threatened to kill a neighbor’s dog in front of a three-year-old child, then stepped out of sight and “started beating on his dogs to make sure that that child heard every scream.”

Referencing the department’s stated core values — including loyalty, compassion, courage, accountability, respect, and excellence of service — Pierce said those values are not reflected in officers’ actions.

In wrapping up his comments Pierce said "This culture of dismissal is terrifying. Look at the recent murder at the Ashley Inn. Police were warned by the individual's family about his severe instability, exactly as they are doing with Nicholas Mumma."

Tribal member recounts fear and alleged dog abuse

Following Pierce, local tribal member Miranda Butler said she was speaking “from a genuine good place in my heart” about growing concerns around “Nick Mumma and his pet companion Elyon.”

Butler, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians who moved to Lincoln City about five years ago, described her first encounter with Mumma and his dog at the Lincoln City Dog Park on September 9, 2025. She said her puppy ran to greet them at the gate, and Mumma immediately became aggressive.

“He instantly became violent and yelling at Randy and I both,” Butler said, recalling him screaming, “Get your effing dog, control your effing dog.” Butler said she was standing with two regular dog park users who could see she was scared. “I was in tears and I was shaking,” she told the council. “Nick being a man and me being a woman, you know, I was fearful.”

She said she watched as he used his dog’s leash to “shoo” and slap at her dog before she decided to leave. Butler said she went “straight to the public rec center” afterward to file a written grievance about the incident.

About a month later, on October 7, she said she again encountered Mumma and his dog near the dog park. Remembering the earlier confrontation, Butler said she considered leaving and coming back later, but instead she remained in her car and witnessed what she described as clear abuse of the dog.

“Nick was dragging Elyon,” she said. “He dragged him and flipped him over and made him submit… and he was even like jerking on his collar after he had obeyed Nick.” Butler told the council she was disturbed enough that she pulled out her phone and recorded video of the incident as it happened.

The Lincoln City police department has stated that they take the abuse accusations seriously however they cannot act with out probable cause and evidence. In a second press release on July 23rd LCPD reported Elyon underwent a comprehensive examination by a veterinarian to assess his health and determine if he has been injured. The veterinarian found Elyon to be in good physical health, and he did not have any injuries.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's office said they are continuing to monitor the situation. The two press releases from the Lincoln City police department can be found on their facebook page

Fixed-income residents push back on Pacific Power rate hikes

The council also heard from residents alarmed about rising utility costs and the cumulative financial burden of city projects. Rhodes End resident and retiree Marie McFarland revisited concerns she raised two weeks earlier about rate increases, especially for Pacific Power customers and local water and sewer costs.

“As a retiree, I don’t have that ability to increase the amount coming in every month,” McFarland said. “How many people want to hire an 80-year-old? Not too many.”

She criticized what she sees as a steady stream of requests for higher rates and new funding.

“If you look back, every single meeting has had someone either asking for a rate increase or asking for more money to complete or fix something that is broken,” she said. “You keep asking for more and more, and we just don’t have it.”

McFarland urged the council to “consider the needs and let go of the wants,” and at least once simply “say no.”

She also pressed city leaders for answers about deferred maintenance at City Hall, repeating questions she said have gone unanswered: who decided to defer maintenance, how many years it was delayed, and what happened to the funding that had been budgeted for upkeep.

“I have a horrible feeling they were spent just because they were available and never set aside for the maintenance,” she said, warning that residents ultimately bear the cost.

Lincoln City resident Betty McCain added to the chorus against Pacific Power rate increases, calling the proposed hike “impending” and pointing to recent profit figures for the company.

McCain cited a 2024 adjustment approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission that she said translated to about a 12.9 percent increase for residential users, 12 percent for small businesses, and 16.7 percent for commercial customers. She argued that those costs are ultimately passed on to local residents.

She questioned why Lincoln City customers should be asked to help pay for wildfire restoration, wildfire insurance, coal plant exit plans, data center infrastructure, and large transmission projects in other states, including segments in Wyoming and Utah.

“Why, why, why should we be on the hook for this or anything out of our state or out of our city, for that matter?” McCain asked. “There needs to be a stop to the draining of the pocketbooks of the citizens of Lincoln City,” she said, adding that she fears her repeated warnings “keep falling on deaf ears.”

Council members did not engage in extended debate during the public comment segment. The mayor reiterated at the outset that statements made by citizens during public comment represent their own opinions and not the official position of the City of Lincoln City or its employees.