Union County Sheriff’s Office arrest La Grande woman for car theft on Thanksgiving

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, November 28, 2023

LA GRANDE — Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested a La Grande woman for stealing a vehicle from the Mount Emily Recreation Area on Thanksgiving Day.

Misty Dean, 40, of La Grande, was taken into custody on charges of first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, according to Oregon public records. The first two are felony level offenses.

Union County 911 Dispatch Center received a call the morning of Nov. 23 about a vehicle that had gone missing from the MERA trailhead on Fox Hill Road, according to the probable cause declaration. Deputy Kyle Witty contacted the owner, who shared he had parked at the trailhead and hid his keys in a pile of timber in the bed of his truck before taking an hour-long hike.

Witty, along with deputy Morris Capers and Oregon State Police Sgt. Grant Jackson, searched the area for an hour and a half, according to the probable cause declaration. The vehicle was listed as stolen through the nationwide Law Enforcement Database and the vehicle provider was attempting to locate the car through the onboard navigation system.

Shortly before 2 p.m. the provider reportedly notified dispatch that they had received a ping from the vehicle traveling north along Forest Service 3120 Road. The car had stopped at an area known as the “frog ponds.”

Law enforcement responded to the area and upon his arrival Witty reported that he saw a hooded figure flee from the car. The individual — later identified as Dean — was found climbing a ladder onto the back of a nearby fifth-wheel travel trailer.

Dean allegedly admitted to stealing the vehicle, according to the probable cause declaration. Dean told law enforcement that she had been having mechanical problems with her truck, so she drove down and parked at the MERA campgrounds. She saw the other truck parked at the trailhead and found the keys in the bed. Dean reportedly said that she took the truck and “off-roaded” because she knew law enforcement would be searching for it.

The hood of the stolen truck was up when law enforcement arrived on scene, according to the probable cause declaration. Dean was allegedly trying to remove the fuse, so that the vehicle could not be tracked. Witty arrested Dean and reported that he found what appeared to be user amounts of methamphetamine and heroin.

Dean is represented by court-appointed counsel — La Grande attorney Rick Dall, according to Oregon public records. She is due in court Dec. 5 for a probable cause preliminary hearing.