Police camera helps catch suspect in thefts of COVID-19 signs from NW Bend park
Happened several times; caution tape removed from closed playground
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Portable cameras police placed at a northwest Bend park helped them catch a Bend man who they said recently stole COVID-19 social distancing signs and removed caution tape from a playground, and may have done so repeatedly in recent weeks.
Police were told May 4 by the Bend Park and Recreation District that someone had removed caution tape and stolen the signs from Quail Park on Northwest Regency Street, Lt. Clint Burleigh said. The park district has been working to keep properties safe and comply with the governor’s orders to protect the community from further spread of COVID-19, he said.
Between April 24th and May 4th, the park district reported that 10 COVID-19 signs at the park had disappeared, as well as one reminding park users to leash their dogs, Burleigh said. The suspect also allegedly removed the caution tape from playground equipment several times.
Bend Park and Rec continued to replace the signs and the tape, and due to the rash of thefts and vandalism, the district began using zip ties and locks, to keep them secured.
Neighbors and park district workers said they had contacts with someone who reportedly would let his dog roam the park and was suspected of removing the signs, the lieutenant said.
Bend police worked with BPRD to identify the person behind the thefts. Police placed portable cameras in the park, in an attempt to identify the suspect, Burleigh said.
On Monday, police checked the video from the camera system and found once again that several signs had been removed and the caution tape taken down the previous day, Sunday. Burleigh said it showed the suspect using bolt cutters to remove the signs, several of which were recovered near the park.
Using the video, Burleigh said, police identified Ricardo Cruz Orazetti, 44, of Bend, as the suspect in the most recent theft and criminal mischief.
On Tuesday, just after 1 p.m., patrol officers and the Problem Oriented Policing Unit executed a search warrant at Orazetti’s home in the 2500 block of Northwest Champion Circle, Burleigh said. They found bolt-cutters and other evidence related to the most recent removal of the safety signs and criminal mischief.
Orazetti was arrested by citation and ordered to appear in court on charges of first-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental administration and violation of the governor’s orders.
The outcome of the incident “is an example of great partnership with the community around Quail Park, Bend Park and Recreation District and the Bend Police Department,” Burleigh said in a news release.
Park district spokeswoman Julie Brown said she believes this has been the most frequent location of signs being stolen. But she said the district also has replaced some removed signs on the Deschutes River Trail, spelling out safe distancing on the one-way route from Farewell Bend and Riverbend parks to the South Canyon Bridge.
