K9 Zoro Tracks Down Suspect Following Myrtle Creek Burglary Report
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office K9 Zoro tracked down a burglary suspect hiding in tall grass after a reported break-in near Myrtle Creek. Two people were arrested, while authorities continued searching for another person reportedly involved.
MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. - A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office police dog helped locate a man hiding in tall grass following a reported burglary Saturday night near Myrtle Creek, authorities said.
Deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:40 p.m. Sept. 5 to a home in the 1000 block of North Gazley Road after receiving a report of a burglary in progress. The caller reported seeing two men inside the residence and said a woman associated with a black 2007 Honda Fit drove away after being confronted.
Deputies located the Honda and conducted a traffic stop while responding to the property. The driver, identified as 45-year-old Amber Leigh Cates of Canyonville, was detained and later taken into custody.
At the residence, the victim told deputies one man had fled on foot and another might still be inside. Deputies made several announcements warning that a police dog would search the home and instructing anyone inside to surrender, but received no response.
K9 Zoro searched the residence but did not find anyone. Deputies then began searching the surrounding property.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Zoro tracked north into a large field before showing strong interest in an area of tall grass. The dog continued following the scent and turned east.
After approximately 15 yards, a man stood up from the grass with his hands raised. Deputies identified him as 50-year-old Tommy Coggswell of Canyonville and took him into custody without further incident.
Deputies and Zoro continued searching for the second man reportedly involved, but he was not located.
Cates was lodged in the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a Class C felony and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Coggswell was lodged on suspicion of second-degree burglary.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471 and reference case No. 26-2801.
Officers from the Myrtle Creek Police Department and Cow Creek Tribal Police Department assisted the Sheriff’s Office.
Zoro is an 8-year-old German shepherd who has served with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office since September 2019. He was purchased by an anonymous community donor and given to the agency. The Sheriff’s Office K9 program includes three patrol dog teams and one narcotics detection team. The program is supported by private donations and the nonprofit Friends of Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs.
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