LA GRANDE – A La Grande man faces a slew of charges after a multi-county crime spree.
Storm Mensch, 25, of La Grande, has been arrested following a crime spree that spanned La Grande and Grant County. The La Grande Police Department (LGPD) says that the spree began on July 13, when a La Grande resident reported her car stolen. Surveillance footage revealed that Mensch, who is the ex-boyfriend of the victim, stole the car around 2:30 a.m. that morning. The vehicle was later recovered in La Grande.
On July 18, at 5:29 a.m., another vehicle was reported stolen in La Grande and was recovered the next day in Grant County. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office identified Mensch as the primary suspect in this theft, as well as in several burglaries that occurred overnight in their jurisdiction.
On July 20, an LGPD officer attempted to stop a vehicle with switched license plates driven by Mensch. After a brief pursuit that ended in an apartment complex, Mensch attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by LGPD officers and taken into custody. He is currently lodged in the Union County Jail on multiple charges related to the car thefts and the attempted elude.
Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley commented on the situation, “During the fires and evacuations, there have been those that would prey on the vulnerable. I will not tolerate this. An individual familiar with the area took advantage of the chaos, driving a stolen vehicle out of La Grande, and broke into various businesses and residences along US 395 from Dale to Mt. Vernon. Many thanks to Sgt. Damon Rand for his efforts that led to this person being caught.”
Mensch faces charges in Union County, with additional charges pending in Grant County for the burglaries and thefts.
