One Redmond fugitive arrest leads to another

Monday’s arrest of one fugitive in southwest Redmond led to the capture of another Tuesday who also was wanted on a parole violation warrant and for fleeing police in several recent pursuits, authorities said.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crime Unit detectives were conducting surveillance late Monday afternoon on a car associated with fugitive Randy Lee Cooper, 25, of Redmond, who had an outstanding felony state warrant for parole violation. He was seen in the area of the 2200 block of Southwest 19th Street and ran to another vehicle, an SUV, got in, got in a rollover crash, crawled out and ran but was arrested.

Redmond police Lt. Curtis Chambers said neighbors were asked to let police know if anyone returned to the other vehicle.

Police were dispatched Tuesday morning to the Ridgemont Apartments at 2210 Southwest Canyon Drive after a report of suspicious activity by two people in the parking lot, in an incident officers learned was related to Monday’s arrest, Chambers said.

Arriving officers detained a man and woman and began investigating an alleged attempted unauthorized entry into the car, he said.

Chambers said officers quickly determined the man was giving a false name to police, but they were able to identify him as Brandon Berrett, 32, of the Redmond area, who was arrested on an outstanding parole violation warrant. The woman was not charges or detained, Chambers said.

During a search, a user amount of methamphetamine was found, as well as a digital scale, several clean plastic bags commonly used to package drugs, about $200 cash and a collapsible baton. Possession of the baton was a crime, Chambers said, due to Berrett’s status as a convicted felon.

Berrett also was wanted for several incidents in which he allegedly sped away from deputies trying to conduct a traffic stop. Chambers said one of the most recent incidents was Feb. 2 on Fryrear Road, near Sisters, when deputies terminated the pursuit due to unsafe speeds and Berrett’s poor driving. More charges against Berrett in those pursuits are expected soon, the lieutenant said.