Arrest in Bend Fred Meyer burglary, gun recovered

A 21-year-old Bend man has been arrested on charges of an early-morning burglary at the Bend Fred Meyer and a handgun stolen from a case there has been recovered, police said Thursday.

The break-in was reported around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday by an employee at the store at 61535 S. Hwy. 97 who reported someone had forced their way inside and believed a gun had been stolen. Police searched for the suspect and confirmed a gun had been stolen, said Cpl. Juli McConkey.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Ryan Matthew Connolly was detained at the Bend Walmart by a loss prevention employee for theft.

During police contact with Connolly, they found the stolen gun in his possession, and other evidence connecting him to the burglary.

Connolly was lodged at the Deschutes County jail on charges of second-degree burglary, first- and third-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, felon in possession of a firearm and probation violation, held without bail on the latter charge.

Connolly made the news in November of 2012 when he was arrested on charges of breaking into a southeast Bend business, Duck Delivery. Another Bend resident had confronted and forcibly held him for police. He was jailed on a second-degree burglary charge.