On December 10, Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit officers were conducting focused efforts to locate stolen vehicles. An EPD SCU officer observed what was initially believed to be an unoccupied stolen Nissan pick-up parked in a bay at a carwash near W. 11th Ave and McKinley Street. An SCU officer spotted a man, later identified as Nicholas Rollin Tirapelli, age 42, of Eugene, at the driver door of the vehicle and it appeared he had been down on the seat inside. Officers blocked it in the bay and activated emergency lights. SCU took Tirapelli into custody and found he had warrants for Failure to Appear Robbery in the Third Degree; Failure to Appear Assault in the Fourth Degree; and Failure to Appear Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. The vehicle was returned to the owner, who had reported it stolen the day before from Ya-Po-Ah Terrace. Tirapelli was lodged at Lane County Jail on the warrants. Case 21-19395
SCU continued the stolen vehicle operation and an officer spotted a vehicle matching a recently-stolen Nissan Pathfinder in the 200 block of High Street. The vehicle was quickly parked and the male occupant, later identified as Daniel Lee Green, age 38, of Eugene, had gotten out prior to the SCU officer relocating the vehicle. SCU stopped Green near the vehicle and detained him to investigate. The green Pathfinder was originally white but had been spray painted green after it was stolen, about one week prior. Evidence within the stolen vehicle identified Green being in possession of the stolen vehicle. Green’s charges will include Unauthorized Use Vehicle and Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine (Felony). The vehicle was returned to its owner. Case 21-19452