Stolen urology gear recovered; arrest made - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

Document text

0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Since You Asked: Wintertime turkey vultures are somewhat rare       ...       Mail Tribune 100: Jan. 29, 1916, continued       ...       Search to resume Saturday for Guinness record holder Todd Ragsdale       ...       Since You Asked: Wintertime turkey vultures are somewhat rare       ...       Mail Tribune 100: Jan. 29, 1916, continued       ...       Search to resume Saturday for Guinness record holder Todd Ragsdale       ...           CRIME Stolen urology gear recovered; arrest made Suspect also wanted on outstanding warrant Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 29, 2016 at 9:18 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 29, 2016 at 9:18 AM »  Social News More than $126,000 worth of urology gear stolen from an SUV in Medford earlier this week is back in the hands of its rightful owner, and detectives have identified the suspected thief. Medford police said they arrested 33-year-old Robert Bixler in Central Point at about 4 p.m. Thursday shortly after he was pulled over by city police near Jewett Elementary. Police had already identified Bixler as their suspect before the arrest. Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said forensic evidence collected at the scene — a Jeep parked at Springhill Suites in the 1300 block of Center Drive — was expedited because of the value of the stolen equipment. A representative from Hitachi Aloka Medical America Inc., had traveled from Connecticut with the gear — a portable ultrasound and two urology probes in a Pelican case — to be used in a procedure at Providence Medford Medical Center, police said. That equipment was left in a rented Jeep with a soft top overnight Wednesday, which is when police suspect Bixler slashed the top open and made off with the devices, likely not knowing what was inside the case but curious enough to take it and find out. Forensic evidence collected — police declined to elaborate on the type of evidence — pointed to Bixler, who was already a suspect in an another theft case in which he allegedly stole a chainsaw from a vehicle last week. The officer assigned to the chainsaw theft case and the detective assigned to the urology equipment theft heard about the traffic stop over the radio, catching Bixler's name. They both responded and found the stolen gear in the trunk during a search of the vehicle. "Everything was still packed in the Pelican case," Budreau said. "Everything was intact. Everything was accounted for." Bixler was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on aggravated theft charges, but is no longer listed there. Police said Bixler is a suspect in other theft cases around the Rogue Valley. "We anticipate additional charges down the road," Budreau said. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 29, 2016 at 9:18 AM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501