Bend Police investigation any possible ties to crimes in C.O.

By Luisa Anderson, Daisy Caballero, KGW

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Investigators believe the same group of four suspects arrested last week in a raid at a home south of Sunriver are connected to at least 39 home burglaries in the Portland area and the Willamette Valley. Bend Police are looking into whether they also could be tied to any crimes in Central Oregon.

Tigard police announced an update in the multi-jurisdictional home burglary investigation on Monday, about a week after four people in the case were arrested at a home on Gross Drive in the Three Rivers area.

“You don’t get wins a lot, when it comes to investigating like a series of home burglaries, but we consider this a win,” said Kelsey Anderson, a spokesperson with Tigard Police. 

Last November, Tigard police revealed that they were part of a large investigation into a string of home burglaries and attempted burglaries believed to be targeting affluent Asian-American homeowners in Washington County. At the time, Tigard police said there were 10 cases.

Detectives have been working to identify suspects and additional burglaries, Tigard police said on Monday. Investigators are now aware of at least 39 home burglaries linked to the same suspects. A police spokesperson confirmed to KGW that all 39 homes were owned by Asian-Americans.

On Sunday, Feb. 2, Bend Police and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team served a search warrant at a home on Gross Drive, where the suspects were staying. Four people were arrested on felony charges linked to Tigard police cases, the Tigard Police Department said. Bend police also seized a car and recovered other evidence.

The suspects were extradited to Washington County, and Tigard police identified them as:

• Herbert Grueso-Vergara, 30
• Maria Castro-Gamboa, 26
• Fabio Vergara-Cortes, 29
• Fatima Gomez-Aragon, 33

The four suspects were living at various locations throughout the Portland metro area, Tigard police said.

Anderson told KTVZ News on Tuesday, “We believe they would stay in the Portland area and travel to other parts of the state to commit these crimes.”

Simultaneously, on the same day as the Deschutes County raid and arrests, several law enforcement agencies served a search warrant at an apartment complex on Southeast Beavercreek Road in Oregon City. Police seized a car, cash and other evidence linked to the investigation. They also seized two cars from the area of North Bristol Avenue in Portland.

Three days later, on Feb. 5, Tigard police and the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team executed another search warrant at an apartment complex on North Bristol Avenue and recovered stolen jewelry.

“As the investigation continues, it is likely that additional charges will be filed, and additional arrests could be made,” Anderson said in a news release.

Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told KTVZ News, “At this point, we’re still investigating to see if we have cases. We’re looking to see if there are connections to any incidents in our area.”

Miller added that Bend Police were “happy to be helpful” in helping apprehend the burglary suspects.

Tigard police said multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in sharing information or executing the search warrants: the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon City police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Beaverton police, Hillboro police, Gresham police, Eugene police, the Portland Police Bureau, and in Washington state, Lynwood police and the Snohomish County Washington Sheriff’s Office.