A Boardman man faces multiple charges, including theft and burglary, in connection to a theft of items from Easterday Dairy in Boardman.
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office in a press release reported the property has value of almost $63,000.
The sheriff’s office received a call around 11 p.m. May 14 reporting a pickup with a trailer had pulled up to the Easterday Dairy Milking Parlor area and parked out of sight.
A K-9 deputy arrived and ordered the driver to stop, but the suspect in the truck pulling the horse trailer immediately left the area, according to the sheriff’s office. During a 3.5 mile chase, a tire came off the horse trailer, causing the pickup and trailer to get stuck in a potato field , where the driver fled on foot. The pickup and horse trailer were full of items. K-9 Telly was deployed, but was unsuccessful in locating the suspect.
A drone from the Boardman Fire Rescue District was used to locate the suspect. According to the sheriff’s office, he was burrowing in the dirt in an attempt to hide. The K-9 team and an Oregon State Police trooper found the suspect with only his face showing and the rest of him 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.
At that point, the suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.
The items in the pickup and trailer were identified as property of Easterday Dairy and the total value was close to $63,000. The horse trailer also were stolen out of Hermiston.
The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as Marco Antonio Garcia, 37 of Boardman. He is on probation with Morrow County Parole & Probation, had an active Morrow County warrant and his driver’s license was suspended. He was booked in the Umatilla County Jail with no bail.
State court records show the Morrow County District Attorney’s Office has charged Garcia with second-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated theft, felony elude via vehicle, misdemeanor elude via foot, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor driving while suspended. Garcia’s next court appearance is June 16 for a pretrial conference.
If anyone has any more information on this case, contact Morrow County Sheriff’s Office at 541-676-5317.
