Police charge 2 in series of car break-ins

According to La Grande Police Chief Brian Harvey, police had received several reports of thefts from motor vehicles Monday.

One vehicle was hit at Denny’s Restaurant, and two at Eastern Oregon University. About noon Monday, a fourth vehicle was broken into at the Grande Ronde Fitness Center on Adams Avenue.

In the Grande Ronde Fitness Center incident, a witness spotted a suspect vehicle and gave police a description, Harvey said.

About 1 p.m., La Grande Police Officer Matt Duncan located the vehicle, a blue Dodge Dakota, at Rite-Aid. According to police reports, investigation led to the recovery of a stolen purse and the arrest of Max M. Marshall, 39, of Keizer.

Harvey said other items were subsequently recovered at a local motel.

“It was a great case,” said Harvey. “Out of $1,400 in currency and missing items, we recovered $928. I’d like to thank our great neighbors, the Oregon State Police and the Union County Sheriff’s office for their assistance.”

Marshall was arraigned in Union County Circuit Court on two counts of theft in the first degree, two counts of theft in the second degree, four counts of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and four counts of criminal mischief in the second degree.

A companion, Tera Ann Parcell, 22, of Keizer, was cited on charges related to the case.

Marshall is being held in the Union County Correctional Facility with bail set at $80,000. He is also charged with probation violation.

Harvey said the case was unusual, because in several of the incidents vehicle windows were broken to gain entry.

He said that in many cases locked doors deter car prowlers.

“It’s very important for people to remember to always lock their vehicles,” he said.

He added it is also a good idea to remove valuables from the vehicle, or at least hide them out of sight.