On November 30, Eugene Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit and SWAT executed a search warrant at 2930 Jefferson Street. The subject of the search warrant, Matthew Caine Garner, age 48, of Eugene, and who is a felon, was purported to have several firearms, body armor and narcotics. Furthermore, on November 4, 2022, Garner filed a burglary report with Eugene Police and provided a detailed list of items stolen, as well as video surveillance of the ‘suspected’ burglar.
The burglary report was assigned to a Property Crimes detective. During the early stages of SCU's investigation, SCU officers read the burglary report and because of their familiarity with Garner, knew some of the items he was reporting stolen were items he was prohibited from owning, such as body armor. The assigned SCU officers contacted the Property Crime detective and worked both angles of the case.
On November 30, EPD’s Property Crime Unit and SCU arranged to meet Garner at a safe location to go over the property list. Garner arrived promptly and was taken into custody without incident. During the search of the residence, EPD SCU located 23 items from the reported burglary inside of the residence. Coincidentally, the insurance adjuster was scheduled to meet at Garner's residence the following day in regards to the filed insurance claim. EPD SCU seized six firearms, one of which was stolen in 2021 from Moscow, Idaho, two heavy body armor tactical vests, two tactical helmets, one piece soft body armor, sound suppressor (silencer), and several thousand rounds of ammunition. Narcotics seized from the residence included suspected fentanyl Oxy 30 pills, suspected methamphetamines, and suspected heroin.
Garner was lodged at Lane County Jail on six counts of Felon in Possession of Firearm, three counts of Felon in Possession of Body Armor, and Unlawful Possession of a Silencer. Pending charges are Initiating a False Police Report, and Conspiracy to Commit Theft 1 by Deception. Case 22-18049
SCU works in concert with communities to help solve issues. The unit focuses on prolific offenders, who are identified through intelligence-based policing, public tips and other sources. They proactively respond across the city to quality of life issues as they arise, using all available resources and partners such as community groups, neighborhood associations and city services. SCU is dedicated to targeting immediate and acute community safety system issues while working toward mission-critical enhancements that need to be addressed through a longer-term and broader community safety initiative. The unit currently consists of a lieutenant, a sergeant and five officers, including one officer with a drug detection K9.
Original source can be found here.
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