Indictments Made in St. Helens Car Prowling Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2021

St. Helens, Ore. – On Thursday, December 16, 2021, a Columbia County Grand Jury indicted Shane Gaddert and Zachary Moist on charges related to a St. Helens Police Department investigation into numerous thefts from vehicles that occurred on November 27-28, 2021.

Zachary Moist, 18, from Portland, Ore., was indicted for two counts of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Identity Theft, Theft III, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Unlawful Entry to a Motor Vehicle, and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. 

Shane Gaddert, 27, from Portland, was indicted for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.

On Sunday, November 28, 2021, at approximately 4:14 a.m., St. Helens police responded to a suspicious vehicle report in the area of Edna Barr Lane. The reporting party told police that five suspects had exited a white SUV and proceeded to test vehicle door handles in the neighborhood. Officers conducted an area search but were unable to locate the suspects or the vehicle. St. Helens police continued to receive theft from vehicle reports over the same weekend from the Elk Meadows neighborhood, Parkwood neighborhood, Crestwood Village, Noble Road neighborhood, and Charming Way neighborhood.

St. Helens investigators worked with surrounding law enforcement partners and were able to identify Moist and Gaddert as suspects involved in the thefts. 

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any additional information related to this case, please contact St. Helens Corporal Smith at 503-397-1521.

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For further information regarding this press release, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.