Trial set for man involved in Ophir burglary

GOLD BEACH – A three-day trial is set to begin Aug. 11 for one of two men charged following an early morning burglary on June 4 in which the property owner fired shots at two stolen cars attempting to run him down at his Ophir home on June 4.

Jeffery Dale Rosenberry, 38, at the request of his defense attorney Jim Gardner, last week pleaded not guilty to all counts and had his trial dates set, as well as an omnibus hearing set for July 13 for motions to be presented to the judge. Rosenberry, Port Orford, is being held in the Curry County jail on $100,000 bail.

Paul Wesselink, a sheriff’s commissioner from Orange County, Calif., who is building a summer home at Elk Point, near Ophir, described what happened early on June 4.

“The guy comes over the hill in a stolen truck, goosed it and tried to run over me,” Wesselink said. “I fired a couple of shots. He crashed. Another guy in a Honda comes over the hill. I shot a couple rounds at him. He put it in reverse and went up the hill. He crashed.”

The two were arrested trying to hitchhike back to Port Orford as officers were investigating the burglary scene.

A Curry County grand jury has since indicted both on charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, first-degree theft and two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle. All are felonies.

Sheriff John Bishop said his department received a 911 call of a burglary in progress with shots fired. Deputy Joel Hensley was called out about 4:30 a.m. and arrived at the scene, followed by Sgt. John Ward.

Hensley found one stolen vehicle lodged against the fence in gear but no one around, Bishop said. When Ward arrived, they went up the road and contacted Wesselink.

“During this contact, sounds were coming from the brush area to the north of the residence. Another vehicle was also located with engine running and lights on but no one around,” Bishop said.

Due to weather conditions and limited visibility, combined with no knowledge of how many burglars were near the area, additional assistance was requested.

Captain Bob Rector and Bishop arrived on scene along with Oregon State Trooper Paul Rushton, Gold Beach Chief P.J. Janik and Coos Bay Officers Sgt. Sean Merritt and Officer Tim West. Coos Bay also brought their K-9 “VIGO.”

A perimeter was set up around the residence and the burglars were tracked. It was later determined one fled to the south and the other north, but both had headed to Highway 101.

“They just ransacked everything,” Wesselink said.

He said he had a motorcycle that had been loaded by the burglars and was ready to go.

While the investigation at the residence continued, officers were patrolling Highway 101.

At about 9:05 a.m., Trooper Rushton advised he had two men hitchhiking approximately two miles to the north on the highway and they were taken into custody.