Raids turn up stolen safe, $100,000; 3 arrested

A safe containing a handgun, business papers and a large amount of cash was stolen in an early-morning burglary last week at a business south of Redmond, prompting a series of four Jefferson County raids, three arrests and the recovery of the safe and more than $100,000.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched early on Monday, March 26 to a reported overnight burglary at the business, whose name was not disclosed in Wednesday’s news release from Sgt. William Bailey.

Inside the safe was a handgun, business documents and vehicle titles, as well as “a large amount of cash,” he said.

Over the past week, the sheriff’s office Street Crimes Unit detectives executed four search warrants in Jefferson County in the burglary investigation, Bailey said.

Two of the raids were in Madras, in the 1200 block of Southwest Murray Street and the 100 block of Southwest Cleveland Street. The others were in the 6300 block of Buckskin Lane in Crooked River Ranch and the 12000 block of Highway 97 in Terrebonne.

Detectives recovered the stolen safe, including the business documents and more than $100,000 in cash. The handgun has not been recovered, Bailey said.

Ricardo Guerrero, 44, of Terrebonne was arrested Friday and booked into the Deschutes County jail on charges of second-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated theft, second-degree criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, methamphetamine possession and delivery and cocaine possession. He remained held Wednesday on $75,000 bail.

Thomas Zimmerman, 34, of Madras, was arrested Saturday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail, held without bail on a probation violation and also charged with meth delivery and possession. Bailey said more charges are expected.

Wesley Westcott, 31, of Terrebonne, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Deschutes County Jail. He was held without bail on a probation violation, also charged with second-degree burglary. Bailey said he also faces burglary, theft and other charges.

While the investigation continues, Bailey said the business owner victimized in the case is taking additional security measures to prevent it from happening again.