Medford Police have successfully apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries that occurred between July 4 and July 6, 2023.
On July 6, officers discovered a Red Toyota RAV4 in the vicinity of Hawthorne Park, matching the description of a vehicle captured on surveillance video leaving the scene of a reported burglary on July 5. Property stolen during previous burglaries in Medford was found inside the vehicle, confirming its connection to the crimes.
Promptly after locating the suspect’s vehicle, Patrol Officers were dispatched to an attempted burglary in the 100 block of Geneva Street, near Hawthorne Park. During their response, officers discovered 41-year-old Joseph Henry Gonzalez hiding in the bushes. Gonzalez was subsequently arrested, and Medford Police Department detectives were called in to conduct further investigation.
During the interview with detectives, Gonzalez confessed to committing the crimes in Medford. He also admitted to stealing the Toyota RAV4 during a residential burglary in Portland earlier that week and driving it to Medford. The Portland Police Bureau was informed of Gonzalez’s involvement in the residential burglary.
Following his arrest, Gonzalez was booked on multiple charges, including three counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary in the first degree, one count of burglary in the first degree, one count of attempted burglary in the first degree, one count of criminal mischief in the first degree, five counts of criminal mischief in the second degree, one count of theft in the second degree, and three counts of theft in the third degree.
Medford Police Detectives contacted the owner of the stolen vehicle to inform them of the recovery. The investigation into the series of burglaries and related incidents is ongoing as law enforcement continues to gather evidence.
Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities to help maintain community safety.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
