November 1, 2022 10:30 a.m.

A Veneta man was jailed following an alleged mail theft incident on Monday.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said just after 6:30 a.m. a caller said he caught 35-year old Casey Hadley breaking into his mailbox in the 900 block of Cole Road in Oakland, and then followed the suspect to Sutherlin. The victim said the suspect placed him in imminent fear during the incident, due to the man’s behavior.

Officers in Sutherlin located Hadley and initiated a stop on South Comstock Road. Hadley and a passenger were detained. A search of his vehicle allegedly revealed stolen mail along with other items that were suspected to be stolen.

Hadley claimed he and the passenger had come to the Oakland area from River Forks Park and said he decided to “do something stupid” while the passenger was asleep. He denied breaking into the victim’s mailbox but had a prybar and long screwdriver along with bolt cutters in his possession.

DCSO said multiple reports of mail theft and criminal mischief had come in the Garden Valley area throughout the day. There were at least 15 victims.

Hadley was charged with first-degree theft, second-degree theft, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, six counts of second-degree criminal mischief, three counts of menacing, six counts of mail theft, and for reckless driving. Hadley was detained without bail.