In the last couple of weeks there has been a rash of vehicle thefts….there were two more incidents this week. They have occurred in the Omak area, Oroville area and in the Methow area.

* * * On Friday, 05-16-08 at around 4:30 PM deputies took a stolen vehicle report of vehicle stolen from Main Street in front of the Grange Hall in Riverside while the owner was unloading items to go into the Grange.

At around 7:30 PM Oroville Police Officer C. Bilbruck, spotted the vehicle parked in front of the Peerless Restaurant, with three male subjects located around it. The subjects were contacted by Oroville and the Sheriff's Office. Arrested at the scene for Possession of Stolen Property was John P. Martinez, 34 of Omak. The vehicle was returned to the owner.

* * * On Saturday, 05-17-08 at around 12:05 PM Okanogan County Sheriff's Sgt. Ernie Gahimer was assisting Oroville Police Department in attempting to locate a stolen pickup, which had been stolen from Northwest Wholesale of Wenatchee. Sgt. Gahimer located the vehicle parked in the southbound lane of travel, just south of Toats Coulee intersection with the Loomis-Oroville Road. The two suspects then got into the vehicle and started to drive away but were stopped by Sgt. Gahimer. Arrested at the scene were Cesar D. Carranza, 31 of Oroville and Shannon R. Cooper, 28 of Omak. Both suspects were later transported to the Okanogan County Jail and booked. Carrenza was charged with Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Owners Permission and Driving While Suspended/Revoked in the 3rd Degree. Cooper was charged with Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Owners Permission and for Theft 3rd. The vehicle was returned to the owner.

Sheriff Frank Rogers