Bend Costco shoplifting arrest triggers raid
A Bend man’s shoplifting arrest at Costco Friday afternoon led to a raid on his northeast Bend home early Saturday morning, the arrest of two roommates wanted on arrest warrants and the seizure of more items stolen from the store, as well as two guns and various drugs, police said.
Ronald Lowery, 31, was arrested around 4:45 p.m. at the Costco on NE Highway 20 on a first-degree theft charge involving an earlier shoplifting incident at the store, said Lt. Brian Kindel.
As the investigation continued, officers got a search warrant for Lowery’s home at 2444 NE Desert Willow Court, which they served around 12:40 a.m. Saturday, Kindel said.
A man and woman with outstanding arrest warrants, Jason Edward Briese, 30, and Jordan Leigh Gress, 23, were arrested at the home. Briese, a convicted felon, also had a shotgun in his possession, Kindel added.
Several drugs were found and seized, including methamphetamine and marijuana, the lieutenant said, as well as more items stolen from Costco – electronics items, such as GPS units — and another firearm. Kindel added that that evidence was still bring processed and more charges are expected.
Lowery was arrested and later released on his own recognizance, a jail officer said.
Briese was held on $77,500 bail, charged with felon in possession of a weapon, first-degree burglary, second-degree theft, third-degree criminal mischief, driving with a suspended license and an out-of-county warrant for failure to appear in court, jail records showed. Gress was held without bail on a probation violation charge.
