SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
Man's best friend helped nab a suspected car thief in Salem.
Late Tuesday evening, someone stole a red car from the Walmart parking lot on Lancaster Drive NE, Marion County deputies said.
Shortly after the theft, Salem police received a call that a car, matching the description of the stolen vehicle, rammed the front of Salem Market on Center Street NE, investigators told FOX 12.
The suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Ross Sierzega, jumped from the car, stole packs of cigarettes from the market and fled in the stolen car, deputies said.
Shortly after midnight, Roth's Market employees reported that the same car had crashed into the front of the store.
The driver stopped the workers, realized he'd been seen and took off before taking anything, deputies said.
As deputies and officers converged on the area, a call came in from a resident on Fanny Way, reporting a man running through his yard.
The description of the man matched that given by the store employees at Roth's.
At about 1:30 a.m., a deputy found the stolen car abandoned on Citation Drive.
It had extensive front end damage from ramming both stores, investigators said.
Authorities established a perimeter around the area while canines from both agencies were called in to track the suspect.
The dogs tracked Sierzega to the rear yard of a house on Fanny Way and detectives took him into custody.
He initially refused to follow commands to surrender, deputies said.
He was treated at Salem Hospital for a dog bite.
Sierzega was then booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, trespassing, resisting arrest, hit and run, DUII, reckless driving, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stolen vehicle, deputies said.
He's being held on $82,000 bail.
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Ross Sierzega
Sr. Deputy Jerry Wollenschlaeger and his canine "Yo"
