On Saturday, February 09, 2013, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop for a minor traffic offense. In the course of their investigation they discovered that the three occupants of the car were in route to burglarize an occupied house. The female victim of the crime was home at the time.
Yesterday at about 6:20 p.m., a Sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop at the intersection of NW 185th Avenue and NW Evergreen Park Way. He stopped a 2001 Suzuki SUV for an unsignaled lane change and contacted the driver, 43-year-old John Phillips from SE Portland along with two passengers. The deputy determined that Mr. Phillips had a revoked license and was driving the car illegally. He was arrested for driving while revoked.
The Sheriff’s deputy discovered property, including credit cards and a driver’s license, which belonged to a female. When questioned about the property Mr. Philips said he found the items and was going to return them.
A second deputy arrested the front passenger, 27-year-old Nicholas Teegarden from NE Portland, for a felony warrant out of Multnomah County for failing to appear in court. Deputies also saw a glass pipe used for smoking Methamphetamine in the center console of the car. A drug dog was brought in to search the car and about 4 grams of Meth was found inside.
During the investigation, deputies learned the credit cards, license, and keys had been stolen from a car at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl earlier in the day. The three men were planning to smoke methamphetamine and go to the victim’s house and burglarize it. Deputies seized a baseball bat, a large kitchen knife, and a pry bar from the car. Deputies also arrested the rear-seat passenger, 31-year-old Joseph M. Landers of Gresham.
All three suspects were taken to the Washington County Jail and booked on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Burglary I, Attempted Burglary I, and Possession of Burglary Tools. In addition, Mr. Landers was placed on a hold from Multnomah County Parole and Probation. Mr. Phillips was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, Driving While Revoked, and a hold was placed on him from Multnomah County Parole and Probation.
All three suspects have been arrested numerous times for a wide range of charges, including Burglary, assault, miscellaneous drug charges, and weapons charges.
The female victim lives about one mile from where the Sheriff’s deputy made the traffic stop and she was home at the time.
News Release and Photos: Washington County Sheriff’s Department