Reward out in Crook Co. power line vandalism

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by Portland General Electric in hopes of finding whoever shot and damaged a 500,000-volt power line in Crook County in two recent incidents, officials said Thursday.

On Nov. 21, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office received a report from Portland General Electric that someone had caused damage to the power line in the area of Millican Road and the Four Corners area, off Reservoir Road, said Deputy Chris Estes.

Two days later, the sheriff’s office received information of more damage to the transmission lines in the same general area, Estes said.

It was determined that someone had shot the insulators that support the transmission lines from the towers.

“The damage caused by this vandalism is extremely expensive to repair, creates a substantial danger to any person in the immediate vicinity and may result in restricting use to these areas,” Estes said in a news release, saying the crime is likely to bring charges of first-degree criminal mischief.

Under Oregon Law, damage done to a utility such as PGE is a felony crime, the deputy said.

PGE has announced they have established a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the criminal mischief to the tower transmission lines, he said.

The sheriff’s office is seeking the public’s help in identifying anyone responsible for these acts of vandalism. If you have information about any suspicious persons or activity in the vicinity where this occurred, you’re asked to contact them at 541-447-6398.

The sheriff’s office is conducting the investigation with the assistance of PGE and other law enforcement partners.