MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. — A Canyonville man was arrested after a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office K9 tracked him to a field during an investigation into a reported burglary in progress Saturday night.
Deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:40 p.m. Sept. 5 to a residence in the 1000 block of North Gazley Road in Myrtle Creek after a caller reported two men inside the home. The caller also reported that a woman associated with a black 2007 Honda Fit had fled after being confronted.
While responding to the call, deputies located the Honda Fit and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, identified as 45-year-old Amber Leigh Cates of Canyonville, was detained and later taken into custody.
At the residence, deputies contacted the victim, who reported that two men had entered the home. One man had fled on foot, while the second was believed to possibly still be inside.
After deputies made numerous announcements ordering anyone inside to surrender, K9 Zoro was deployed to search the residence. The 8-year-old German Shepherd searched the home but did not locate anyone.
Deputies and Zoro then began searching the surrounding property for the fleeing suspects. Zoro led his handler into a large field and began tracking north. After a short distance, the K9 showed a strong interest in an area of tall grass, indicating fresh human scent.
Zoro continued tracking and eventually turned east. After approximately 15 yards, a man later identified as 50-year-old Tommy Coggswell of Canyonville suddenly stood up from the tall grass with his hands raised.
Zoro barked at Coggswell while deputies took him into custody without further incident.
Deputies and Zoro continued searching for the second male suspect, but he was not located.
Cates and Coggswell were transported to the Douglas County Jail.
Cates was lodged on charges of conspiracy to commit a Class C felony and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Coggswell was lodged on a charge of second-degree burglary.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 541-440-4471 and reference case No. 26-2801.
The investigation was assisted by officers from the Cow Creek Tribal Police Department.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Zoro has served with the agency since September 2019. The German Shepherd was purchased by an anonymous community donor and gifted to the Sheriff’s Office.
The agency’s K9 program consists of three patrol K9 teams and one narcotics K9 team and is supported through private donations and the Friends of Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs, a nonprofit organization that supports local police K9 teams.
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