Redmond, Ore. – Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to an unusual call Monday night in Redmond that sounded more like a scene from a movie than a typical dispute.

At 7:53 p.m. on December 8, dispatch received a report from a resident on NW Norse Way just outside Redmond stating a family member was threatening to crush their vehicle with a tractor. Moments later, the caller confirmed the threat had turned into reality: the suspect was actively ramming the vehicle with heavy machinery. 

Deputies quickly responded and spotted a massive CAT 980M front loader rumbling away from the scene near NW 35th Street and NW Upas Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver, identified as 36-year-old Blake Mogan of Redmond, was taken into custody without incident. 

Mogan admitted to stealing the front loader from a nearby construction site. The CAT, valued at over $750,000, sustained minimal damage and was returned to its owner.  

Mogan was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on the following charges: 

• Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (UUMV) 

• Theft in the First Degree 

• Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree 

While the situation could have ended much worse, deputies were able to safely resolve the incident and return the stolen equipment. It’s not every day you see a traffic stop involving a 70-ton front loader, but our team is ready for anything. 

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