The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Local citizens and business employees called in suspicious activity that led to the arrest of a California man on multiple theft charges.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) reports that on November 19, the DCSO received two reports of a suspicious male driving a white 2020 Dodge Challenger with a California plate of 8PZP129, in the 69800 block of Pine Ridge Road and in the 17800 block of Highway 126. In both of these calls, the driver of the vehicle entered two private properties and was taking photos with a cell phone. The male driver was not fully described in the calls, however he was described as a male and a license plate was provided when the vehicle left the area.

Deputies later located the vehicle parked in front of Rancho Viejo restaurant on Cascade Avenue in Sisters at approximately 3 p.m. Deputies spoke with the man, who was later identified as Arthur Charles Wilson, age 27, of San Diego, California. Wilson was warned about entering the two previous properties and deputies ended their contact with him.

At 4:38 p.m., an employee of Rancho Viejo reported Wilson had failed to pay a $41 lunch bill and had left driving westbound on Cascade Avenue in the same white Dodge Challenger.

At 4:58 p.m., an employee at Space Age Gas Station on Cascade Avenue called to report a theft of $10 in gas involving the same white Dodge Challenger with the California plate of 8PZP129. The suspect description matched Wilson’s description. The vehicle was reported to have left driving southbound on South Pine Street.

Deputies began searching the area. The vehicle was later located by a deputy in the area of 304 W. Adams Ave., where the vehicle was stopped on a traffic stop. Wilson was driving the vehicle.

An investigation determined Wilson had committed the thefts at Rancho Viejo and Space Age Gas. Additionally, the 2020 Dodge Challenger Wilson was driving was determined to be an unreported stolen vehicle from a Hertz rental car lot in San Diego, California. Deputies searched the vehicle and located a California license plate in the trunk of the vehicle, which returned as a stolen plate out of San Diego, California, DCSO reported. That plate was allegedly stolen from a 2008 Ford Utility, registered to the City of San Diego Equipment Division.

The vehicle was subsequently impounded so it could be returned to Hertz.

Wilson was lodged at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail on the following charges: Failure to carry and present a driver’s license, unauthorized use of a motor Vehicle, and Theft III (three counts).