A Veneta man’s tenacity to keep his water flowing ended in four arrests, the recovery of stolen property and one-half ounce of methamphetamine last week, according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
Police said Jeremy Sean Carlson, 28, stopped paying his water bill in December 2005. Eight months later, Veneta Public Works stopped service to his home by locking the water line.
That didn’t stop Carlson, police said.
Police said he broke the lock, using water for another month until utilities workers discovered the allegedly fraudulent flow. On Aug. 31, the company removed the water meter completely.
Carlson then used PVC pipe to channel the water to the house, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
Public Works removed the plastic conduit after three weeks. Five days later, staff discovered a garden hose delivering water to Carlson’s home, according to the release.
“Their tenacity for getting their water back was the most interesting,” sheriff’s office Sgt. Clint Riley said.
Deputies arrived at the residence on Sept. 26, demanding Carlson and Melissa Williamson-Bumford, 24, let them search the home.
During the investigation, police say, officials found stolen checkbooks, swords, golf clubs, cell phones and a laptop computer that matched descriptions from prior burglaries. Police say Carlson had also attempted to steal electrical wire from streetlights.
During the search, two people, both with arrest warrants, arrived with methamphetamine, according to police.
“Nine out of 10 times, you find property crime with methamphetamine,” Riley said. “The two crimes go hand in hand.”
Police arrested Carlson on three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, three counts of theft of services, first-degree burglary, second-degree attempted theft and possession of meth. Williamson-Bumford was arrested on charges of possession of meth, and Bradley Leon McCoy, 25, and Ashley Lynn Freeman, 22, on charges of delivery and possession of meth.