Early Friday morning, December 9th, the Curry County Sheriff’s Dispatch received reports from a resident in Harbor that she observed a subject opening opening mailboxes and taking mail from numerous boxes on Sunset Strip.
The caller described a woman in a black Honda Accord opening mailboxes and taking mail and a Deputy was immediately dispatched just after 7:40am from Highway 101 near the intersection of West Benham Lane.
As the Deputy traveled down West Benham Lane, he observed a smaller black car that appeared to match the description provided by the witness turn off Wenbourne Lane onto West Benham and then travel towards the port.
When the Deputy caught up to the car, he observed it to turn onto Boat Basin Road and could see it was a Honda as described by the witness. The suspect vehicle entered Beach Front R.V. Park and about halfway down, the vehicle pulled into a parking spot with what appeared to be only one occupant.
Contact was made by the Deputy, and while exiting and approaching the vehicle the Deputy could see the driver through the rear window moving around leaning over the passenger seat in what appeared as the suspect attempting to conceal items.
As the Deputy reached the driver’s window, he could see a large amount of mail on the passenger seat and floorboard and ordered the female and sole occupant out of the vehicle.
After complying, the female was placed in handcuffs and was identified as 31 year old Tasheena Cole.
During the interview with Cole, she admitted to stealing the mail, was arrested, and taken to the Curry County Jail. Cole’s vehicle was seized and towed to a secured location to be held while a search warrant was applied for.
At approximately 2:13pm, members of the Curry County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Cole’s vehicle. Well over 100 pieces of mail and packages were recovered from the Harbor area of Curry County and Smith River, California. Investigation continues and the victims will be contacted by the Sheriff’s Office in the near future.
