Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports yesterday, at around 7:15 p.m., her deputies responded to the 36000 block of Cold Springs Road near Crabtree for a burglary in progress. The property was previously burglarized multiple times. Deputies were given information that the homeowner was gone, and someone was currently on the property.
Deputies responded and quickly surrounded the location where they found two people still in the house. Deputies attempted to communicate with the occupants and have them surrender to deputies. The two occupants, later identified as Aaron Barger, 37, of Lebanon and Ashley Waters, 34, of Lebanon, refused to cooperate. Deputies used K9 Thunder to assist with the uncooperative subjects and both Barger and Waters were taken into custody after they were found hiding in the house.
Barger was transported to Albany General Hospital for injuries to his left forearm sustained during his apprehension with K9 Thunder. Barger was released and later lodged with Waters at the Linn County Jail for Burglary I, Criminal Trespass and warrants for previous offenses.
Burglaries often cause victims to feel violated and unsecure in their most private areas of life and we take that violation seriously. The use of a K9 gave our deputies the ability to apprehend these suspects in a manner that is safest for all involved.