COOS BAY, Ore. – A 42-year-old Coos Bay man has been indicted on charges related to the burglary of a jewelry store that happened last month, according to the Coos Bay Police Department.
CBPD officials said that, at 7:20 a.m. on November 15, 911 dispatchers received a report of a broken window at Harry Ritchie’s Jewelry on North Bayshore Drive in Coos Bay. The caller told dispatchers that he’d also found a broken watch case nearby, according to Coos Bay police officials. Authorities said that responding police officials arrived and found several pieces of missing jewelry and watches valued at more than $10,000 in total value, at a location north of the store. Police named a potential suspect, identified as Kermit Gaston, through security camera footage from area businesses and multiple interviews following the recovery of additional pieces of stolen jewelry, police officials said.
Coos Bay police said they arrested Gaston on November 21 on an unrelated charge of felon in possession of a firearm. At the time, Gaston was wearing what appeared to be the same boots as the suspect captured on security cameras, police said. Authorities said police obtained a search warrant for Gaston’s vehicle which led to the seizure of additional evidence, burglary tools, and fentanyl.
Gaston is currently in custody at the Coos County Jail where he faces charges that include first-degree burglary, first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree criminal mischief, felon in possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, according to police officials and jail records. Gason was indicted on the burglary charges by a Coos County Grand Jury on November 26, according to court records.
Article provided by KEZI 9 News.