Citizen tip leads DCSO to 3 stolen bikes, drugs, cash, three arrests

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A citizen tip Wednesday of two men taking apart possibly stolen bikes behind a trailer on Bend’s north end led to the arrest of three Bend residents, a raid and the recovery of three stolen bikes, as well as drugs and cash, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies were dispatched around 8 a.m. on the report of suspicious circumstances at Juniper Mobile Park on North Highway 97, Sgt. William Bailey said. The person told dispatchers two men were behind a trailer, disassembling bikes that may have been stolen.

Deputies contacted resident Galen Brown, 63, who allowed the deputies to inspect three bicycles there. Bailey said deputies confirmed they had been stolen in Bend last month, with a combined value of over $10,000.

Deputies applied for and received a search warrant to look for other stolen bikes and parts. The raid turned up more suspected stolen items, Bailey said, as well as methamphetamine, heroin and cash suspected of being associated with drug sales.

Shawn Claxton, 49, and Cindiy Kusmider, 39, also were contacted at the residence, arrested on active warrants and taken to the county jail.

Brown was arrested by citation and will appear in court on charges of aggravated theft, meth possession and delivery and heroin possession.

The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible, Bailey said, adding that “the sheriff’s office would like to thank the observant citizen that called in and reported this information.”