That's a really unusual insect you found. We actually know very little about this species so would like to have any you can give us - where was it found? What was it feeding on? Are there more in the area? and so on. Send any information to me at <personal data hidden>.

I sent your picture to two OSU entomologists and they agree on the identification. Here's the information I received from Bill Gerth at the University:

That is actually a leaf beetle (family Chrysomelidae), not a lady beetle (family Coccinellidae). These families can often look similar superficially. The critter in the photo, though, has longer antennae and a more exposed head than I would expect to see if it were lady beetle. Lady beetles and leaf beetles also have different numbers of tarsal segments (the final segments of the leg), so that is something I would use to confirm this beetle’s identity if I had it in hand (could not see this on the photo). Leaf beetles have 5 tarsal segments on each leg, but the 4th segment is very small, so it looks like they just have 4 tarsal segments. Lady beetles have 4 tarsal segments on each leg, but the 3rd is very small, so it look like they only have 3 tarsal segments. 

Based on the color pattern and body form, I think your beetle is a species called Calligrapha sigmoidea. Here’s a link so you can see what you think: http://bugguide.net/node/view/675885/bgimage The specimen in your photo has a brighter red-orange color to the hardened front wings than the specimens at the link, but the pattern of the black markings is exactly what I would expect for this species.

Leaf beetles are plant-feeders, so they can often be pests. The only info I have on this species though indicates that it feeds on native mallows (Sidalcea species). Since people rarely grow these plants on purpose, this beetle is unlikely to cause any troubles for the person who took the photo.