Powell Butte, Ore. — Authorities are investigating an overnight burglary at Brasada Ranch after two people were reportedly caught attempting to steal alcoholic beverages from the resort’s Ranch House early Wednesday morning.
According to the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and officers from the Prineville Police Department responded at approximately 12:44 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2nd, to a report of a burglary in progress at the Ranch House at Brasada Ranch.
Investigators said two individuals were found attempting to take alcoholic beverages from the Ranch House and were confronted by an employee.
Both individuals then fled the area on foot.
A K9 team from the Bend Police Department was requested to assist in searching for the two individuals, but authorities said the resulting track was unsuccessful.
The sheriff’s office said there is no threat to the public.
Authorities also sought to dispel reports that began circulating on social media overnight claiming the incident involved an armed robbery.
“There have been many posts on social media from people who heard ‘scanner chatter’ that this was an armed Robbery,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Wednesday morning. “This was NOT an armed robbery.”
The sheriff’s office urged residents to use caution when sharing unconfirmed information from police scanners or social media, noting that preliminary radio traffic does not necessarily reflect what investigators ultimately determine occurred.
“We encourage everyone to be cautious about what they read and share on social media and to wait for factual information to emerge from trusted sources,” the sheriff’s office said. “Knee-jerk reactions can cause unnecessary panic.”
No arrests were announced as of Wednesday morning, and authorities did not release descriptions of the two individuals.
The Crook County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and that no additional information will be released at this time
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
