Two men were arrested for stealing items at Redmond’s Walmart and selling those items for drugs, according Lt. Jesse Petersen with Redmond Police.
On Dec. 1, Walmart reported keys, a demagnetizer and over $500 in merchandise had been stolen.
The next day, a suspect of that theft was caught in the act of shoplifting more goods from Walmart. Redmond Police contacted 37-year-old Redmond resident Kenneth Hammerberg in Walmart and arrested him for theft and two outstanding warrants. Police searched him and found several stolen items. Hammerberg was taken to the Deschutes County Jail.
During the investigation, officers executed a search warrant on a purple Ford Fusion that had been parked in the Walmart parking lot and parked at The Hub Motel where Hammerberg was staying. While executing the warrant, police found another suspect of the theft, 31-year-old Terrebonne resident Ryan Gray, in a hotel room at The Hub Motel. Gray was arrested for theft and four outstanding warrants.
While investigating, Redmond Police found the missing keys and demagnetizer, along with small amounts of heroin. Investigators determined the stolen property was being traded for drugs, Petersen said.
