REDMOND, OR -- The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office broke up an alleged car theft ring tied to an October 31 car chase between Sisters and Bend. During the pursuit of a stolen Cadillac, police arrested the driver of a stolen pickup; the two were thought to be traveling together from the Willamette Valley.
That driver was 25-year-old Daniel Redding. Police searched his Alfalfa home and found two more stolen vehicles. They eventually recovered 10 vehicles reported stolen from Bend, Madras, Salem, Woodburn and Cottage Grove.
The investigation led police back to 41-year-old Clay Fraser, arrested in Redmond October 25 for drug and weapons charges.
Five others were arrested, earlier this week, after a search of another southwest Redmond home uncovered more evidence, including commercial quantities of heroin and meth, and forged currency. The four arrested following the November seventh search on SW Canal are 49-year-old Cassandra Tischler (pictured: left), 54-year-old Dwaine Copeland (center), 39-year-old John Kalista and 43-year-old Leza Piper, all of Redmond; and 34-year-old Kori Knisley of Bend (right). They all face a variety of theft, forgery and drug charges. Kelly Westbrooks, age 34, of Redmond, was cited for Frequenting a Place where Drugs are Used, in lieu of custody.
According to DCSO, Tischler, Copeland, Knisley, Redding and Fraser targeted vehicles on car lots in multiple areas. Vehicles were traded or sold for drugs and money. There are no known outstanding stolen vehicles related to this case.
