Detective David Burgin of the Cottage Grove Police Department confirmed the identity of the suspect wanted in connection with a recent rash of burglaries to Cottage Grove businesses as Ryan Dane Hershey, a 19-year old transient with a history of similar offenses.

Hershey was apprehended at Coiner Park by Burgin Thursday morning; subsequent questioning by Burgin and Detective Scott Shepherd led to a forthright confession by the suspect, Burgin said. Under questioning, Hershey claimed an addiction to narcotics and alcohol fueled his actions. Hershey also claimed he acted alone in each of the incidents. Including suspected burglaries in Eugene, Hershey could eventually be charged with 17 counts of Burglary II. Currently, 11 charges of Burglary II have been leveled against him, and Burgin expects Hershey to spend 10 days in the Cottage Grove Jail before a transfer to Eugene.

Each burglary featured the same method of break-in: Hershey allegedly used a rock or piece of cement to break the glass door at each business. He then ransacked the business in a search for cash. Detective Scott Shepherd estimated that Hershey pocketed less than $500 for his efforts.

According to Burgin, reports of burglaries that would eventually be attributed to Hershey began the first week of June. Hershey is accused of burglaries at Pacific Clearvision sometime between June 6 and June 8 and Les Schwab Tires and Rain Country Realty between June 9-10. Between June 10 and June 20, Hershey served jail time in Eugene for burglary charges there before being released due to overcrowding. He is suspected of burglarizing Western States Insurance and Affordable Travel in Cottage Grove overnight June 19-20, but Burgin said Hershey admitted he was probably involved but too drunk to remember the incidents.

Hershey allegedly burglarized Cottage Grove Professional Pet Grooming between June 20-21. He allegedly burglarized Aspen Chiropractic twice, once between June 26-29 and again June 29-30. He is also believed to have burglarized Chvatal Orthodontics June 29 and Pinocchio’s Pizza July 1. Overnight July 2, he admitted to burglarizing Cottage Grove Hearing, Cottage Grove Veterinary Clinic, The Cottage Grove Sentinel, Advanced Eyecare and the Conoco gas station on Highway 99. Hershey had previously been on probation for an earlier burglary at Cottage Grove’s Bi-Mart location.

According to Burgin, Hershey missed a court date Monday, June 29 that led to a warrant for his arrest. An off-duty officer spotted Hershey walking with a friend Thursday, and Burgin eventually located the suspect at Coiner Park. Cottage Grove Police contacted Lane County Probation and Parole Services to determine whether Hershey could be taken into custody for parole violation; upon receiving confirmation, they took him into custody for questioning. Had Hershey not confessed to his crimes, they say, he would still be walking the streets today.

“If he had decided not to talk, we’d still be at square one,” Burgin said. “It’s frustrating when you think you know who it is but you have no evidence.

“He talked in-depth about the businesses and had specific information,” Burgin said. “It was information only the suspect would know.”

Burgin said the only real property Hershey allegedly stole was a laptop computer taken from Rain Country Realty; it was eventually returned.

“He said he didn’t want to pack stuff out,” Burgin said. Hershey also said that his choice of businesses was completely random.

Burgin said Hershey expressed a desire to get help for addictions to alcohol and narcotics. He said Hershey had been estranged from his parents and living with his grandparents, who recently passed on.

Shepherd said Hershey is not a suspect in the June 28 break-in at the Cottage Grove Speedway, where an intruder made off with a safe that reportedly contained $30,000.

“He didn’t have the means to take the safe,” Shepherd said. He said CGPD is waiting for evidence to return regarding that burglary.

“There was evidence of a break-in and that the person involved was very deliberate about knowing where to go,” Shepherd said.