Arrest made in NW Bend apartment burglary, shotgun theft

A 24-year-old intoxicated Bend man entered a northwest Bend apartment late Friday night, stole an unloaded shotgun and caused damage, prompting a police search that led to his arrest, police reported.

Officers responded shortly after 11 p.m. to the Acadia Newport Apartments at 1052 Northwest Newport Avenue on a report of a burglary and theft in progress, said Sgt. Mike Landolt.

A 26-year-old apartment resident told police he was home and thought his roommate had returned, but later saw the suspect, later identified as Eric Koester, and ordered him out of the apartment. The resident said the intruder stole an unloaded shotgun and provided a description of him, Landolt said.

Officers responded and set up a perimeter, receiving information the man was still inside the stairwell-hallway of the apartment complex, the sergeant said. It was reported there was blood from the man on the door to the complex and inside the hallway.

Officers tried to call the man out for a “long period of time,” getting no response. He eventually was found, around 1 a.m., to be in the hallway, near one apartment, and was taken into custody by officers.

Koester had cuts to his hands and was taken by Bend Fire paramedics to St. Charles Bend.

An investigation found that Koester had damaged items in the apartment, as well as the common area of the apartment complex, Landolt said.

The officer told NewsChannel 21 it was a “random burglary” and that Koester apparently knew no one there and the apartment he entered had its door unlocked.

Officers searched the area for the stolen shotgun and it was located on the south side of the apartment complex, he said. Based on its condition, it appeared Koester threw the shotgun over the balcony while in the apartment, the officer said.

“The suspect damaged a door in the apartment, a glass case with a football in it, a thermostat, a glass framed picture, and the shotgun as it was dropped from the balcony,’ Landolt said.

Landolt said Koester would be taken to the Deschutes County Jail after he is released from the hospital. He was booked into the Bend jail Saturday evening on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and second-degree criminal mischief, with initial bail set at $40,000 pending his first court appearance Monday