Eugene, OR – Two men were taken into custody after an alleged robbery at Perkins Peninsula Park resulted in an hours-long search and the recovery of stolen cash.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a robbery report at around 1 p.m. Sunday. Authorities said the victim had arranged to meet two men at the park to purchase items, but was instead allegedly assaulted and robbed of cash during the meeting. The suspects were later identified as Christopher Tafoya, 49, and David Miller, 52.
Deputies reportedly spent several hours searching for the suspects and eventually located them in the 26000 block of Butler Road. Both Tafoya and Miller were arrested without incident and booked into the Lane County Jail on charges of second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, first-degree theft, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, and interfering with making a report. According to deputies, most of the stolen money was recovered from the suspects.
Authorities noted that while the case was resolved within 24 hours and the victim was able to recover most of his money, this is not always the outcome in similar crimes. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to use caution when meeting strangers for private sales, recommending well-lit public areas and electronic payment methods instead of cash.
Anyone with additional information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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