Eugene, Ore. – Deputies responded to the Elmira area this morning in an attempt to locate the suspects in a burglary that occurred a few miles to the north. The suspects are believed to have stolen numerous items including power tools, a welder, and a chop saw before driving away in a flatbed pickup.
A Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy located the suspect vehicle as it drove through Veneta and turned towards Eugene. Deputies also learned that the suspect vehicle had been stolen from the Eugene area recently. Deputies coordinated with other responding units to prepare spike strips in the event the vehicle chose to flee.
Once resources were in place, deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle fled but was quickly disabled by awaiting spike strips that had been deployed further up the road. The occupants, 34 year old Roger Dale Painter, and 52 year old Phillip Allen Nelson, were taken into custody without injury.
In addition to the numerous other items of stolen property found in the vehicle, deputies located and recovered a 12-gauge shotgun that had also been taken in the burglary.
Painter and Nelson were transported to the Lane County Jail. Painter was lodged on charges including: Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 1st Degree, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Attempt to Elude by Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and an unrelated arrest warrant. Nelson is not believed to have been directly involved in the burglary at this time. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail on an unrelated arrest warrant.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Eugene Police Department and Oregon State Police with their assistance in this investigation. LCSO CASE #21-7232
(News Release from Lane Co. Sheriff’s Office
Posted on FlashAlert: December 30th, 2021 2:42 PM)
