Pair arrested in burglaries at two Post homes

Two men have been arrested on burglary, theft and other charges in connection with recent burglaries of about $40,000 worth of items from at least two homes in the town of Post, Crook County authorities said Sunday.

On July 20, Crook County sheriff’s deputies began investigating a reported rash of burglaries and thefts on Southeast Conant Basin Road in Post, a town about 25 miles southeast of Prineville, Sgt. Jake Childers said.

In the days that followed, deputies were able to determine that at least two homes had been burglarized and that stolen items were being housed at a vacant location, he said.

Deputies learned that numerous household supplies, food, electronics, firearms, archery and hunting-outdoor equipment and ATVs were stolen. Childers said deputies were able to find and recover seeral stolen items, as well as several items of evidence.

Between Thursday and Saturday of last week, deputies obtained more evidence, leading to search warrants being served in raids on one Prineville home and another in Post, as well as two vehicles in Prineville and other property and items.

Evidence from those searches led deputies to develop probable cause to arrest Josef Taylor, 37, of Post and Daniel Hibbits, 39, of Prineville, Childers said..

The pair were booked into the county jail on charges of first- and second-degree burglary, first- and second-degree criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree aggravated theft, second-degree theft, first-degree criminal trespass while in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and a restricted weapon, and tampering with evidence.

Taylor and Hibbits were being held on more than $200,000 bail each, and also under a five-day hold for parole violations.

The sergeant said the investigation remains active and more arrests are possible as additional evidence is analyzed.