Two La Grande Residents Arrested After Stolen Handgun Recovered in Baker City

Two La Grande residents were arrested Jan. 28 after investigators linked a handgun reported stolen from a vehicle in La Grande to a Beretta recovered during a search conducted by Baker City Police in La Grande. Authorities say the arrests resolved a local theft report and are connected to several vehicle break-ins and stolen firearms in Baker County earlier this month.

La Grande Police Department (LGPD) received a report on Jan. 25 from a resident in the 500 block of B Avenue that a handgun had been taken from a vehicle sometime the previous night. Baker City Police executed a search warrant in La Grande on Jan. 26 and seized a Beretta 9 mm whose serial number matched a pistol the La Grande owner said had been stolen; the owner estimated its value at about $700. Baker City officers also located two rifles, an AR-15 and a .30-06, that had been reported stolen in Baker City. Police are still searching for a stolen Taurus 9 mm handgun.

LGPD arrested Sydney Hope Kunzler, 24, and Kristopher Alan Stone, 34, at the Sundowner trailer Park, 1806 26th Street, at around 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 28. Kristopher Alan Stone was booked on a charge of Theft in the First Degree. Sydney Hope Kunzler was booked on Theft in the First Degree and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. Both suspects were cooperative during the investigation and were lodged in the Union County Jail.

Baker City Police say the two are also suspects in the thefts of two rifles and a handgun from three vehicles at a trailer park at 1695 Auburn Ave in Baker City, incidents that occurred late on Jan. 19 or early on Jan. 20. Lt. Wayne Chastain of the Baker City Police said, “Kunzler and Stone are suspects in the Baker City thefts.” He added that investigators have provided evidence to the district attorney’s office for possible grand jury action.

The arrests underscore growing concerns about unsecured firearms left in vehicles across Union and Baker counties. For residents of La Grande and nearby trailer parks, law enforcement officials emphasize the cross-jurisdictional nature of the probe and the benefit of cooperation between agencies. LGPD investigators noted the case was handled collaboratively with Baker City Police, and that partnership aided the recovery of multiple weapons.

Next steps include review by the district attorney’s office and possible grand jury consideration. For local residents, the immediate implications are a reminder to secure firearms and personal property in vehicles, and an expectation that investigators will continue working across city lines to address a pattern of vehicle-related gun thefts.