UCSO deputy arrests theft suspect

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

MILTON-FREEWATER – Christopher Lee Phillips, 40, is in Umatilla County Jail following an investigation by Umatilla County Sheriff’s Deputy Derick Smith. The arrest on Monday stems from an incident that occurred at Blue Mountain Tire Pros in Milton-Freewater on June 17.

UCSO Criminal Division Captain Paul Wolverton said an employee called to report an adult male was trespassing and stealing property. Smith responded, but the suspect had left the area prior to his arrival. Smith immediately began an investigation into the suspect allegedly entering one of the buildings on the property and carrying out boxes of property. He was confronted at that time. The property was valued at about $1,500.

Employees got a photo and the license plate number of a pickup the suspect was driving. Smith and Oregon State Police checked the area that day but were unable to locate the truck or driver.

Smith identified the suspect as Phillips and spotted him in the area of Safeway Monday afternoon.

“Phillips was interviewed on-site and subsequently arrested on probable cause for Burglary II and Theft I,” Wolverton stated. “There are no ongoing concerns to the community at large as a result of this incident.”