Prineville man accused of breaking into Bi-Mart, stealing 12 guns
Police say he gave false name to police; K-9 helps find bag of guns outside
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A 34-year-old Prineville man was arrested this week on charges he broke into the city’s Bi-Mart, busting out the front door with a brick, then using an axe to smash into a firearms display case and steal a dozen guns, which were found stashed in a tent bag outside the store.
A breaking-glass alarm at the front entry brought police and Crook County sheriff’s deputies to the Bi-Mart on Northeast Third Street shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, less than an hour after the store closed for the night, Sgt. James Peterson said Thursday.
Others in the parking lot reported to police seeing a white Chevy Tahoe circling the store, Peterson said. Officers on scene heard glass breaking inside the store and saw the front door had been smashed out, so they established a perimeter.
An Oregon State Police trooper and Redmond police K-9 Maverick and partner Officer Josh Powers also were brought in.
A man found at the rear of the store gave a false name to police, Peterson said, but then was seen getting into a white SUV matching the witnesses’ description and was detained, again giving a false ID. Officers soon learned it was Johnathan Sharp, who was taken into custody.
A search involving the K-9 team turned up a camping tent bag with 12 firearms and several rounds of ammunition inside, the sergeant said.
While all of the stolen items were recovered, there were several thousand dollars damage to the store’s front door and display case.
Sharp was booked into the Crook County Jail and held without bail on a probation violation charge. He was indicted Thursday on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, first- and second-degree theft, second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief.
In April, court records show, Sharp was convicted of illegally possessing a short-barreled rifle and was sentenced in May to 30 days in jail, three years probation and other conditions, including a mental health evaluation and treatment. He also pleaded guilty in May to methamphetamine possession and received a concurrent 10-day jail term.
