On December 20 at 4:35 p.m., the Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit was out and about working and one of the officers spotted a Ford Ranger going southbound on S. Danebo near West 11th Avenue. It matched a truck he knew was listed as a stolen vehicle. The license plates had also been reported stolen the day before. The SCU officer parked in the 4400 block of Commerce Street and waited while the driver went into a market. The driver, later identified as David Noel Mestaz, age 44, of Eugene, became aware of the officer and walked in the restroom and shut the door.
The officer contacted the passenger of the vehicle, Jessica Lee Miles, age 43, of Eugene, while he waited for other SCU officers to arrive. Once they were there, the officer went inside and contacted Mestaz as he exited the restroom. The passenger, Miles, and Mestaz both had warrants for arrest. Miles has a warrant for Unauthorized Use Vehicle, and Mestaz for Shoplifting.
An SCU officer located evidence associated to another stolen vehicle that had been left in the restroom where Mestaz had been.
SCU charged Miles with Unauthorized Use Vehicle, and the warrant and took Miles to Lane County Jail on her warrant.
Case #21-19999
Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit
The SCU has been focusing on prolific offenders, who are identified through intelligence-based policing, public tips and other sources. They have been proactively responding across the city to quality of life issues as they arise, using all available resources and partners such as community groups, neighborhood associations and city services. SCU is dedicated to targeting immediate and acute community safety system issues while working toward mission-critical enhancements that need to be addressed through a longer-term and broader community safety initiative. The unit currently consists of a lieutenant, a sergeant and eight officers.