PROSPECT, Ore. -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says a Prospect man faces charges today for taking equipment from a fire lookout station.  It also says an anonymous tip led to the man's arrest.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) says a grand jury today indicted 30-year-old Chad Allen McPherson.  He faces charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and felon in possession of a restricted weapon.  Jackson County Jail records show he went to jail Friday.  JSCO says, "due to a parole violation for felon in possession of a firearm is not eligible for pre-trial release."

The Sheriff's Office says McPherson and another suspect were recorded by surveillance video breaking into an Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) lookout tower in the Prospect area Sunday, August 14, and the other suspect has not been identified.  JCSO says its detectives identified a person of interest and are working to identify the additional suspect with prints and DNA.

JCSO says its detectives arrested McPherson during a traffic stop Friday after receiving a tip and matching his photos to surveillance video and while searching his vehicle detectives discovered burglary tools.  ODF reported that power support equipment including solar panels and battery array were taken from its Prospect-area lookout station for its early fire detection camera there.

JCSO says during a search warrant of McPherson's property in the 2000 block of Shelly Lane in Prospect detectives found a restricted weapon he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon and they found a black-market marijuana grow.  JCSO says, "Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant and destroyed 256 cannabis plants and 300 pounds of processed black-market marijuana on the property. There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location."

JCSO says later Friday its Dispatch received a call about a duffel bag at an intersection with a note reading, "call the cops."  JCSO says its deputies retrieved the bag and it contained items matching the stolen ODF equipment, though solar panels and batteries are missing as, "The theft disabled ODF’s early fire detection capability for the northeastern portion of Jackson County near Prospect. ODF is currently working to get the camera system back up and running."

The Sheriff's Office says its detectives are actively working the case, inviting information about the additional suspect and the missing equipment at the JCSO Tip Line at 541-774-8333, case 22-4725.

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