Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley reports that on April 18, 2016, at 5:57 a.m., Linn County 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from a resident in the 29000 block of Harvest Drive west of Tangent, reporting someone was attempting to steal a delivery truck from the residence. While deputies were responding, the caller told the dispatcher they saw someone running from the scene.
While deputies searched the area, Michael James Stanley, 46, of Corvallis was seen attempting to get into another car east of the caller’s residence. Stanley was taken into custody without incident.
It was discovered that Stanley had driven his personal vehicle through the Oakville Cemetery damaging one headstone and continued into a farm field where his vehicle became stuck in the mud. He walked to a nursery business where he attempted to steal a different box van delivery truck, which also became stuck in the mud. Stanley continued on foot through fields where he entered two more vehicles; no property was taken from either vehicle.
Stanley was arrested and transported to the Linn County Jail on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, 4 counts of Unauthorized Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief II and Criminal Trespass II.
The investigation is continuing.