Two men were arrested after allegedly stealing weapons from a homeowner in Umatilla County.
The arrests came Sunday afternoon when a sergeant from the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) made contact with two men who were standing alongside a silver 1999 Honda Civic with Washington plates parked on the shoulder of Highway 204 near milepost 6.5 outside of Weston.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Jaime Flores Torres Jr., 23, had a suspended license and no proof of insurance. An additional deputy arrived on scene and dispatch informed them Torres had outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. According to the UCSO, the deputies observed multiple firearms in the backseat and center console of the vehicle. The second occupant of the vehicle was questioned and provided a false name and date of birth. He was eventually identified as Gregorio Uribe Diaz, 21, who also had outstanding felony warrants. Both men were arrested on scene.
While still on scene, deputies were contacted by a homeowner from a residence off Highway 204. The homeowner had just returned home, noticed sheriff’s deputies were near his residence, and discovered his residence and outbuilding had been broken into. An investigation revealed rifles, shotguns and pistols inside the vehicle belonged to the homeowner. Additional firearms found inside the vehicle were identified as having been reported stolen out of Walla Walla County.
Both Torres and Diaz were lodged at the Umatilla County Jail on multiples charges including felony parole violation, first-degree burglary, nine counts of first-degree theft, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of burglary tools, 10 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and second-degree criminal mischief.
Torres was also lodged on additional charges of two counts of failure to appear, unlawful possession of meth and felon in possession of a weapon. Diaz was lodged on additional charge of providing false information to law enforcement.
