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Convicted car thief faces new charges By Jill Briskey Local police only scratched the surface when they arrested a convicted car thief last month. Wanted by police on suspicion of a parole violation, Richard Allen Ward Jr., 28, was arrested in Central Point on Feb. 26. Since that time, Medford police, along with the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department, named Ward as the main suspect in a string of burglaries and car thefts that took place in the last two months. This week, following an in-depth investigation, several new charges were added. � Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and first-degree criminal mischief: Ward has been charged with stealing a vehicle Jan. 31 from the 1900 block of McKenzie Drive in Medford. Police allege Ward also vandalized the vehicle during the incident, causing an estimated $750 in damage. � Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and first-degree criminal mischief: Ward is accused of stealing a vehicle parked in the 300 block of Candice Court in Eagle Point on Feb. 19. When Ward was arrested in Central Point on Feb. 26, police recovered the stolen vehicle, which had been vandalized. � First- and second-degree burglary, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of first-degree theft: Jackson County sheriff�s deputies believe Ward stole two firearms and a wall decoration from a residence in the 7100 block of Crowfoot Road in Trail. The total loss of property was estimated at $5,000. � Possession of methamphetamine: At the time of Ward�s Jan. 26 arrest, police discovered a small amount of meth in the stolen vehicle. � First-degree theft: Police believe Ward stole more than $8,000 worth of heating and air conditioning equipment from Alpha Heating and Air on Feb. 24. � Second-degree burglary and first-degree theft: Police allege Ward is responsible for a Jan. 26 burglary in the 2700 block of Hammond Road. Power tools, a bike and a bow, valued at $1,000, were reported stolen. Ward, who was lodged in the Jackson County Jail without bail, is no stranger to authorities. In 1996, Ward led state police on a four-hour manhunt through the snowy forests around Fish Lake after he was spotted driving a stolen vehicle. Ward was ordered to pay restitution and sentenced to 80 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to two burglaries, two car thefts and attempting to elude police. He was released from the Oregon Corrections Division Prison in December 2000. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.