Man caught on hidden police camera driving stolen cars to Portland wrecking ... - OregonLive.com

A 55-year-old man who Portland police caught on hidden camera driving multiple stolen vehicles onto the weigh scale at a North Portland car-crushing business told a judge Friday that his drug addiction was to blame. Reed became the 13 defendant to be sentenced of 34 people indicted in connection with a large metro area auto-theft and illegal car-crushing investigation. Racketeering charges are pending against the owners of two North Portland auto yards, West Coast Car Crushing and A-1 Light Truck & Auto Parts. In court reports, Reed said he's been unemployed since 2007, admitted to having "a thing'' for vehicles and "hustled'' to feed his habit. He told court authorities that he's been using heroin since he was 27. He has a long criminal history, as well as a long record of failures to appear in court. He pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle, illegal towing, illegal salvage procedures, first-degree theft, third-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault. Reed was accused of driving to West Coast Car Crushing a 1987 Jeep Comanche that belonged to Abby Lyons of Yamhill County, who had loaned the pickup to her daughter, then a University of Portland student. Lyons reported the car stolen to Portland police. 30, 2013, Portland police spotted her truck being driven into West Coast Car Crushing. Source: www.oregonlive.com