Last of six suspects arrested in Redmond theft case

The last of six people facing charges in a Redmond ATM fraud and theft case was arrested Friday night at a southwest Redmond apartment, police said Saturday.

A tip led police to an apartment at 2445 SW Canal Blvd. where Mitchell Bruce Ballard Jr., 25, was taken into custody without incident, said Sgt. Brad McMurrian.

“A Redmond police K-9 was deployed, but he came out after the dog barked,” McMurrian said Saturday night.

Ballard was taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend, where he was held on charges of first-, second- and third-degree theft, first-degree computer crime and a probation violation.

A fifth suspect surrendered to his probation officer Wednesday evening.

Redmond police received a report Dec. 19 from Home Federal Bank of first- and second-degree theft and computer crime, said Lt. Nathan Garibay.

Officers and detectives determined that Jess Larsen, 23, Michael Finley Jr., 23, and Ballard made fraudulent deposits into Larsen’s bank account, Garibay said, and between Dec. 14 and 16 spent nearly $7,000 at several local businesses. The cooperation of the businesses led police to identify the three suspects.

“They bought a bunch of clothing, household supplies and a whole bunch of gift cards,” said McMurrian.

On Saturday, Dec. 22, officers and detectives contacted Larsen and Lily Santulli on a traffic stop, also serving a search warrant at the home of Larsen and Finley Jr. at 1849 SW 31 st St. in Redmond, Garibay said.

During that raid, officers recovered stolen property, including a firearm, as well as more than 10 ounces of marijuana, methamphetamine paraphernalia and other evidence, the lieutenant said.

Larsen was arrested on charges of first- and second-degree theft, computer crimes, drug possession and probation violation, Garibay said. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail and released after posting $500 bail on Monday, a jail officer said.

Three women arrested during the traffic stop and raid remained in jail Wednesday, records showed. Santulli (who also goes by Lily Santulli-Mathews) faces drug possession and probation violation charges. Terena Davis, 26, and Tieanti Garza, 20, are charged with probation or parole violation and frequenting a place where drugs are used or sold.

Finley turned himself in to his probation officer around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, just hours after police publicly identified him as a suspect, McMurrian said.