Oregon City family reunited with service dog, stolen car: deputies
An Oregon City family is celebrating great news since officials recovered their car and service dog on Wednesday after they were stolen two days before.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- An Oregon City family is celebrating great news after officials recovered their stolen car and service dog on Wednesday after the theft two days prior.
Early Monday morning, Amber Wells walked outside her apartment to find her car stolen with her dog Takoda inside at the time. Takoda was originally given as a service dog to Wells' 8-year-old son who is Type-1 diabetic and also has celiac disease. So her loss, however temporary, was felt by Wells.
"I couldn't focus, I couldn't calm down," she told KOIN 6 News in an interview. "There was no comprehension of anything that was going on around me without her there to help me. Like, she's that important."
While Wells reported the theft to police, she said also found help from her neighbors' cameras which looked out to the parking lot where the incident occurred.
"It just so happens that my car was parking next to one of their vehicles and was in the camera's view," she said. "It was all caught on camera. We watched two people run into the apartments, jump into my vehicle and be out with the vehicle in less than 40 seconds."
Two days later, a Clackamas County sergeant found the stolen car while on patrol. Authorities say the driver attempted to flee and crashed into two parked vehicles. The driver - identified as 26-year-old Derek Johnson - and the passenger - identified as 42-year-old Celeste Bush - ran into a unit in the nearby Crown Point Apartments, according to authorities. Police say Takoda was not inside the stolen car at the time.
After several hours and help from the Clackamas County Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), Johnson and Bush surrendered and were arrested, deputies said. Fifty-four-year-old Nina White was also arrested for attempting to hide Johnson and Bush in her apartment, authorities said.
Later that evening, Wells received a tip that Takoda was seen at an apartment complex in Happy Valley. Deputies were soon able find Takoda and reunite her with her family.
In light of this incident, Wells offered advice about securing your vehicle to prevent this from happening again.
"To the people who haven't had your car stolen, let my story be a lesson," she said. "Air Tags, some type of anti-theft device - whether it's a kill switch or one of the bars that goes across the steering wheel - just something. Some secondary layer of protection.
"Just being able to have Takoda back has been amazing," she added. "And I'm very thankful to the police officers who delivered her to me."