Lane County, OR – A months-long investigation by the Lane County Sheriff’s Forest Patrol has led to multiple arrests and indictments tied to a string of thefts and vandalism incidents across timberlands and federal sites in western Oregon.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began probing the case in June after a logging site near Sharps Creek Road was found vandalized and looted. Over the following weeks, similar crimes were reported at multiple locations, including the Brice Creek area and the Dorena Genetic Research Center. Items stolen ranged from fire hoses and tools to vehicles and a fire truck used to protect logging areas.
On August 30, a Cottage Grove police officer stopped a suspect, Michael Duane Vanbrocklin, 40, after the stolen fire truck was located. A second suspect, Dillon McQuade Praay, 31, was later arrested at a nearby transient camp. Deputies recovered stolen property from several agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.
Both men now face multiple felony charges. Vanbrocklin was indicted on 12 counts, including theft, burglary, and firearm possession, while Praay faces charges for vehicle theft, criminal mischief, and theft of federal property.
Authorities urge anyone who may have unknowingly purchased stolen logging or fire equipment from the suspects to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
