Car theft suspect arrested in Redmond church parking lot
A car reported stolen in Salem on Friday was spotted in Redmond Sunday morning, leading to the arrest of the driver after he pulled into the parking lot of a Redmond church, as well a female passenger who was under the influence of drugs, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.
Deputies were notified Sunday morning of a possible stolen car in Redmond after the passenger was seen acting suspiciously and possibly under the influence of drugs at a gas station, said Sgt. Kevin Dizney.
The car was identified as a silver 2009 two-door Honda Accord that was reported stolen in Salem on Friday, Dizney said.
Redmond police and sheriff’s deputies began searching for the car, and at around 8:25 a.m., deputies found the car with two occupants in the area of Northwest 19 th Street and Maple Avenue in Redmond, he said.
The driver, identified as David Gregory Wickham, 41, of Salem, pulled into the parking lot of St. Thomas Catholic Church, at 1720 NW 19 th Street, where officers initiated a stop of the car — with guns drawn, according to a witness.
Wickham and passenger Sarah Beth Caward, 23, of Monmouth, were taken into custody without incident, with the assistance of Redmond police, Dizney said
Deputies determined both Wickham and Caward were in possession of suspected methamphetamine, the sergeant said.
Caward was found to be under the influence of drugs and was taken to St. Charles Redmond for treatment and released on a citation to appear in court for meth possession, Dizney said.
Wickham also was taken to the hospital for unrelated, non-life-threatening injuries and later taken to the county jail in Bend on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and meth possession, distribution and manufacture.
Wickham’s bail on those charges totaled $50,000, but he also was held without bail on two warrants out of Marion and Wasco counties, each on a probation violation for dangerous drugs, Dizney added.
The stolen car was towed from the scene and stored pending return to its owner.
