A man was arrested in urban unincorporated Clackamas County Thursday morning in connection with a string of break-ins and burglaries at two homes.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of an alleged burglary on Southeast Cypress Road in Oatfield shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday.
The homeowner told police they’d awakened to find a man — later identified as Ricky Laverne Sears, 48 — in their garage. Sears reportedly fled the scene with stolen items.
As deputies were beginning their investigation and search from Cypress Road, a second burglary call came in at 6:27 a.m. This incident was reported on Southeast Lark Avenue near Milwaukie — about a half-mile from the first burglary call.
Sears had reportedly forced entry on a rear door of an occupied residence and entered the living room before fleeing the scene by leaping over a fence, according to police.
Deputies then began tracking the suspect with a K-9 officer Coda, a Dutch shepherd Coda, and initiated a reverse 911 call asking area residents to shelter in place and be aware of police activity.
Dispatch relayed sightings of Sears from multiple residents. Deputies also deployed a drone in the area in an attempt to locate the suspect.
The K-9 track proved successful, as Coda located Sears hiding in a shed on Southeast Kelly Court in Clackamas — another half-mile from the second burglary call.
Deputies took Sears into custody at approximately 7:39 a.m. They also seized items from Sears including a loaded Glock pistol, magazines of ammunition, stolen items including ID and credit cards, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of methamphetamine.
Ricky Laverne Sears was taken to Willamette Falls Hospital for treatment, then booked into the Clackamas County Jail, where he is being held on charges including multiple counts of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and resisting arrest.
Clackamas County detectives are still investigating this case and believe Sears may be involved in several additional burglaries throughout Clackamas County.
Anyone with information on criminal activity by Ricky Laverne Sears is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form. Please reference case no. 23-010912.
