On Sept. 6, 2026 just before midnight Lincoln City Police Department officers responded to the area of Southeast Drift Creek Road and Southeast Hemlock Drive to assist the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation of a stolen vehicle. Officers learned a suspect, later identified as Joseph Mealler, 37, of Marion County, had taken a vehicle from a nearby quarry, then fled the area on foot when deputies attempted to contact him.
LCPD deployed officers to the area to assist in maintaining a perimeter and deployed a drone. They also worked with deputies and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s K9 Unit to conduct a foot search of the area. Officers and deputies were unable to locate Mealler in the area that night.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8 at approximately noon, Lincoln City officers located Mealler in the area of Safeway where he was detained until sheriff’s deputies arrived and took custody of him.
Deputies arrested Mealler and lodged him at the Lincoln County Jail for charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree, Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver when Property is Damaged, Theft in the 1st Degree, and two counts of Burglary in the 2nd Degree. Mealler was also arrested for a Marion County warrant charging Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree.
LCPD enjoys a close working relationship with our county partners. Small and rural communities are served best by agencies that are able to pool their resources for investigations like this.
