Two Sweet Home men were arrested this week on suspicion of multiple theft and criminal mischief charges, Linn County Undersheriff Bruce Riley said Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Riley said deputies served a search warrant at approximately 2:13 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, in the 28000 block of Santiam Highway in Sweet Home.
While serving the search warrant, stolen property including logging equipment, dealer amounts of methamphetamine, user amounts of marijuana, drug packaging and drug pipes were recovered, he said. Information from the search warrant later led to the recovery of a stolen flatbed trailer at a second location in the 40000 block of Holley Heights Loop outside Sweet Home.
“This investigation involved multiple thefts, some of which were from private timber properties located in Linn County,” Riley said.
Forrest Clayton Norman, 46, of Sweet Home, and Jerald Allen Erickson, 53, also of Sweet Home, were arrested and lodged at the Linn County Jail.
Both Norman and Erickson were charged with first-degree theft, second-degree criminal trespass, offensive littering, second-degree criminal mischief, and unlawful transport of metal.
Riley said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office mountain patrol deputies and detectives were assisted by Oregon State Police.