Police bust 2 in Lego theft ring
EUGENE — Two people have been charged after a months-long investigation has led police to uncover a significant Lego theft ring in Eugene.
On July 3 around 12:30 p.m., Springfield Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) served a search warrant at the Brick Builders storefront at 1133 Willamette St. and recovered 4,153 sets of Legos worth in total over $200,000.
The three-month investigation uncovered evidence that the store’s owner, Ammon Henrikson, 47, of Springfield was knowingly purchasing new, unopened sets of Legos that were stolen from local retail stores.
In several instances, police said suspects stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of Legos and immediately exchanged them at Brick Builders for a fraction of retail value. Suspects told police that the store’s staff knew the sets had recently been stolen.
SPD partnered with loss prevention investigators from Target, Fred Meyer, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart to confirm that Henrikson was purchasing sets that were stolen from the aforementioned retailers.
Henrikson and Albert Nash, 57, of Eugene were charged with Organized Retail Theft and Theft I by Receiving.
Arson suspect arrested
SPRINGFIELD — On July 8 around 4:46 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies were alerted of a man intentionally setting two fires in dry grass in the 87400 block of Cedar Flat Road. Michael David Dinwiddie, 41, of Springfield was arrested in the 8700 block of Thurston Road.
Dinwiddie was lodged at the Lane County Jail for Arson in the 1st Degree and Burglary in the 2nd Degree. LCSO was assisted by Oregon State Police troopers as well as a Springfield Police K9 and drones from the Springfield and Eugene Police Departments.
Storage shed saved in fire
SPRINGFIELD — Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a reported structure fire at Creative Awnings & Shelters in East Springfield on July 8. Crews were notified at 9:35 p.m. that a storage shed next to the building was on fire. A large storage building was heavily involved in fire directly against the main commercial building. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. There were no injuries and the cause is under investigation.
A week of water rescues
GLENWOOD — Two people were rescued on the Willamette River in Glenwood after their raft deflated and left them stranded on a strainer in the water around 2 p.m. on July 6. Police said that the low head dam is a dangerous obstacle in the river and people who float the river need to stay far right to avoid potential disaster.
On July 4, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue and Marine Patrol Deputies, along with ESF, responded to multiple water rescues throughout the day. Several occurred around the same time, complicating the response.
Most of the subjects were wearing life jackets and were able to at least get to shore to await rescue or assistance back to a landing by boat or patrol vehicle. The calls are as follows:
3 rescued: McKenzie River near highway milepost 30, 3:55 p.m.
3 rescued: Willamette River near Clearwater Landing, 4:34 p.m.
2 rescued: Willamette River near D Street Landing, 4:42 p.m.
1 rescued: McKenzie River near Harvest Landing, 4:43 p.m.
3 rescued: Willamette River near Hileman Landing, 6:07 p.m.
2 rescued: Willamette River near Harbor Drive, 9:30 p.m.
Police remind the community that inflatable tubes, rafts, kayaks and other floats designed for pools and lakes should not be used on the Willamette River, and that water rescue calls take a minimum of 3 fire crews and an ambulance out of service to manage.
