Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley reports that this morning his deputies arrested 29-year old Michael Robert Cox from Albany, Oregon in a string of burglaries and vehicle break-ins.

At 5:11 a.m. deputies had responded to a police alarm at the Greater Albany Public Schools Support Services Building on Grand Prairie Rd., just outside of Albany. It was a discovered a building and multiple vehicles had been broken into at the location. Deputies later responded to a vehicle break-in on Glendale St. not far from the GAPS building.

At 10:09 a.m. this morning, deputies spotted a male standing in a driveway on Grand Prairie Rd. and Union St. When the deputies turned onto the street the male was walking on, he took off running through the backyards of several residences. As deputies chased the male, several residents subdued the subject and wrestled a stolen handgun away from him.

Further investigation revealed the handgun Mr. Cox was carrying was stolen from the garage of a nearby home. In this victim's garage, stolen items from the GAPS building were found along with property from other nearby vehicle break-ins. It appeared Mr. Cox had been stockpiling stolen items in this victim's garage and was going to return to pick them up after his crime spree in the neighborhood.

Deputies were assisted in looking for the suspect by the Albany Police Department.

Michael Cox was arrested and charged with Burglary I, Theft I of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Entry into Motor Vehicle. Deputies are continuing to investigate and more charges are pending.

Deputies are looking for a second male suspect that was seen on video with Mr. Cox during some of the burglaries. Anyone with information should call Deputy Kyle Elliott at the Linn County Sheriff's Office at (541) 967-3911.