COOS BAY, Ore. – Two men were arrested on Sunday afternoon for allegedly stealing cans, bottles, and battery cores from a Coos County recycling center. The arrests followed a swift investigation by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), which involved the use of a K9 officer.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 2, deputies received a report from a Coos County Solid Waste employee about two men suspected of trespassing at the Beaver Hill Disposal Site in Coos Bay. Surveillance footage showed the suspects entering a recycling building, where they reportedly took large quantities of cans, bottles, and battery cores. The men then exited through a hole in the fence, according to CCSO officials.
In response to the report, deputies, along with K9 officer Poe, began tracking the suspects. The search led them southeast, where they discovered bags containing cans and batteries. The suspects were later found in a white vehicle, which was packed with more bags of stolen cans and bottles. K9 Poe also located additional bags hidden in nearby brush, which the suspects had reportedly intended to retrieve later.
The suspects were identified as 40-year-old John Langley and 57-year-old Darryl Sullivan. Initially, Langley denied entering the recycling property, but later admitted to taking cans. Sullivan confirmed to deputies that he had also entered the property and stolen several bags of cans.
Both men were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, and second-degree criminal trespass. They were booked into the Coos County Jail but were later released. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at around $144.
The case highlights the efforts of local law enforcement in swiftly apprehending suspects and recovering stolen property.