Sheriff Nabs 2 Men With 5 Stolen Generators

CORNELIUS, OR — Deputies arrested two of the three men suspected of burglarizing the Coastal Farm & Ranch in Cornelius early Friday. The third suspect has not yet been identified.

Cornelius resident Kenneth Lee Ross, 38, and Portland resident Curtis Michael Vanzee, 54, were taken to Washington County Jail following their arrests. Both men are charged with aggravated theft, burglary, and criminal mischief.

Vanzee is also charged with a probation violation and possession of burglar's tools.

Washington County Sheriff's deputies service the city of Cornelius were dispatched to a commercial alarm at 3865 Baseline St. in Cornelius just before 3:30 a.m. May 18.

As deputies arrived at the Coastal Farm & Ranch store, they saw a black Dodge Ram truck without its headlights on pulling out of the parking lot with several large boxes in the bed. Inside the truck were two men, later identified as Ross and Vanzee.

Pulling the truck over, deputies found five brand new Honda generators worth $6,400, a mask, gloves, and a keychain loaded with dozens of different car keys, authorities said, noting that the truck's license plates were later found to also be stolen.

Also while conducting the traffic stop, deputies heard a police scanner monitoring app and learned the men were attempting to track police movements.

After arresting the men and returning to the store, deputies found a sixth generator valued at $4,000 that had been left behind in the parking lot along with a pallet jack. Nearby, they found an open security gate with a broken lock and the bolt cutters used to break it, authorities said.

With well over 80 run-ins with Portland metro area law enforcement, Vanzee's criminal history in Oregon spans 34 years and covers Multnomah, Washington, and Marion counties.

Ross isn't much better off with just more than 30 criminal entries in the state justice system, though he hasn't been nearly as prolific as Vanzee. Most of Ross' charges center around theft, burglary, and possession of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement officials reportedly believe Ross and Vanzee are involved in other similar crimes around the region. Anyone who may have information that could assist this investigation is asked to call the Washington County non-emergency dispatch line at 503-629-0111.

Images via Washington County Sheriff's Office