About 11pm on Sunday May 14, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call reporting a pickup truck with a trailer that had pulled up to the Easterday Dairy Milking Parlor area and parked out of sight.
When K-9 Deputy Neubert arrived, identified herself and ordered the driver to stop, the driver of the truck pulling a horse trailer immediately left the area. During the 3.5 mile elude, a tire came off of the horse trailer and the truck and trailer became stuck in a potato field. The driver fled on foot. Both the truck and horse trailer were full of items. K-9 Telly was deployed, but was unsuccessful in this situation. Boardman PD also responded to assist and advised that Boardman Fire had a drone that might be available. Boardman PD secured the truck and trailer and the pursuit scene, while the K-9 team headed back to the milking parlor. They had been advised that there might be a second suspect still there. Deputy Neubert, K-9 Telly and an Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper cleared the building, but did not locate a second suspect.
They returned to the field, the drone was in the air and located the suspect in the field. He was burrowing in the dirt, in an attempt to hide. The K-9 team and OSP Trooper were instructed on where to find the suspect and when they arrived at the suspects location, only his face was showing, the rest was covered with dirt. He was advised to cooperate and that a K-9 was present. He initially did not cooperate, then the K-9 stepped forward and began barking, the suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.
The items in the truck and trailer were identified as property of Easterday Dairy and the total value was almost $63,000. The horse trailer was also confirmed stolen out of Hermiston.
The suspect was identified as Marco Antonio Garcia, 37 of Boardman. He is currently on probation with Morrow County Parole & Probation. He had an active Morrow County warrant and his driver’s license was suspended. He was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail with no bail. He was charged with Burglary II, Aggravated Theft I, Felony Elude-Vehicle, Misdemeanor Elude-Foot, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Driving While Suspended-Misdemeanor and MC Circuit Court Warrant for Fail to Appear/Criminal Driving While Suspended.
If anyone has any more information on this case, please contact Morrow County Sheriff’s Office at 541-676-5317.
MCSO wishes to thank Boardman PD, Boardman Fire for use of their drone and operator and Oregon State Police for their assistance, it is very much appreciated.