Veneta man Brian Mitzel, 52, arrested after seizure of stolen trailer, firearms

A routine traffic stop at Territorial Highway and Jeans Road led deputies to seize a box trailer that had been taken overnight from a Eugene business and to discover firearms inside, sparking a follow-up investigation that resulted in an arrest.

"The Lane County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year-old Brian Joseph Mitzel of Veneta in connection with a stolen trailer and firearms discovered during a traffic stop." Deputies stopped a pickup pulling a box trailer at about 7:00 a.m. on Jan. 29 for a traffic violation. The driver was identified as Brian Joseph Mitzel, 52, of Veneta, and was cited at the scene while deputies seized the trailer for further inquiry.

Investigators determined the trailer had been stolen from a Eugene business overnight. Deputies reported the "trailer had been broken into and contained stolen property, including several firearms." Authorities returned the trailer and the firearms to their owners and continued collecting evidence at the site where the trailer had been taken.

"After obtaining evidence from where the trailer was stolen, the sergeant re-contacted Mitzel in Veneta." That re-contact culminated in Mitzel’s arrest on Feb. 4 in Veneta and his lodging at the Lane County Jail. Jail records show Brian Joseph Mitzel remained in custody as of Feb. 6. "Mitzel faces multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm and theft in the first degree." No full booking list, bail amount, court date, or case number was released in the material made available so far.

The case is significant for local contractors, haulers, small businesses and anyone who stores equipment or trailers in the region. Theft in the first degree is a felony-level charge in Oregon, and a count of felon in possession of a firearm normally reflects an allegation that the defendant has a prior felony conviction; those underlying details have not been disclosed and should be confirmed through court filings. Reports do not specify the number, makes, models or calibers of the firearms recovered, nor do they name the Eugene business from which the trailer was taken.

A separate recovery of a stolen camper was reported in mid-November and involved different people. "When deputies arrived, they discovered the trailer was occupied by Travos James Bechtol, 30, and Melissa Renee Pederson, 33," and both were lodged for possession of a stolen vehicle. Melissa Renee Pederson was charged with possession of methamphetamine in that incident. That Nov. 13 matter appears distinct from the Jan. 29 stop and the subsequent arrest of Brian Joseph Mitzel.

What comes next is a formal charging process and court scheduling. Residents who haul equipment or store trailers are advised to secure property, record serial numbers and report suspicious activity promptly to law enforcement. Lane County Sheriff’s Office records and the Lane County court docket will provide updates as charges are filed and hearings are set.