LONG CREEK – A nine-hour investigation Friday led Oregon State Police troopers to arrest two Hermiston men on suspicion of burglary and theft.

The troopers were seeking suspects following a burglary report in Long Creek north of John Day. Troopers found David Bailey, 43, and Adrian Lambert, 31, both of Hermiston, cold and wet and allegedly trying to hide under a juniper tree.

They were lodged in Grant County Jail for burglary in the first degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, possession of burglary tools, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft in the second degree. They also were cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

The investigation began when a Long Creek-area rancher called OSP Sgt. Gordon Larson at about 8 a.m. Friday to report his warehouse and barns were broken into for the third time in as many weeks. During that morning’s burglary, the rancher’s new $50,000 tractor was allegedly stolen.

OSP Trooper Cody Weaver and Recruit Tom Hutchison responded to the scene and followed tire imprints from the tractor for several miles before locating it on a road near a muddy field away from the ranch. The tractor was found in the field where troopers learned the two suspects had allegedly used it to pull their sport utility vehicle out of mud where they were stuck, during which the tractor supposedly punched a hole in the SUV’s radiator.

The suspects drove the damaged SUV to a remote airport hanger where they allegedly broke in to try and repair their vehicle. While there, the suspects allegedly spotted the troopers in the area and left on foot to another nearby ranch north of Long Creek. The suspects contacted the female ranch owner and asked to use the phone. While the suspects were at the home the female ranch owner called police, but when the suspects overheard the phone call they allegedly fled on foot across the remote countryside.

Following the phone call, the two troopers responded to the area and found footprints in the mud leading to the snow-covered hills to the west. The troopers tracked the two suspects through mud and snow for more than a half-mile before finding them cold and wet, hiding under a juniper tree. Both were taken into custody without incident.

Larson said troopers have been investigating a string of burglaries in the Long Creek area.

“It appears these suspects were stealing wire and scrap metal, along with anything else that wasn’t nailed down, to sell for drugs,” said Larson said.