October 6, 2025 10:00 a.m.
Roseburg Police jailed two men and cited one man after a burglary was reported early Friday.
An RPD report said at approximately 12:25 a.m. officers responded to an audible alarm at Hometown Drug in the 1800 block of West Harvard Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found the door had been broken and cleared the business, finding no one inside. Witnesses reported seeing two males fleeing the area carrying garbage bags.
The report said it was apparent that numerous prescription medications had been taken from the store. Officers developed a vehicle of interest from surveillance footage and located the SUV in the 700 block of Old Melrose Road. The vehicle was found parked partially on the shoulder and partially in the roadway, without lights on.
Officers attempted to contact the driver of the SUV, who immediately fled. Deputies pursued the vehicle, which took off at a high rate of speed. Officers received an iPhone crash notification in the area and located the SUV down an embankment. Officers gathered enough information to detain the individuals in the vehicle for the burglary and applied for a search warrant on the vehicle. 28-year-old Jeffrey Arias of California, and 28-year-old Jose Diaz of Roseburg were transported to CHI Mercy Medical Center for their injuries. Diaz was ultimately cleared for custody. 27-year-old Anothony Choto, also of California, was transported to corrections.
Officers served a search warrant on the SUV and reportedly located clothing, equipment, and prescription medication associated with the burglary.
Choto and Diaz were charged with first-degree counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief, and possession of burglar tools. Choto was detained on $10,000 bail while Diaz was held on $7,500 bail. Both were released later on Friday. Arias was contacted by officers on Saturday, but corrections staff refused to hold him, due to the injuries sustained in the crash. He was cited on identical charges. The SUV was a rental vehicle and was recovered by a towing company.