Homeless Handyman Arrested For Breaking Into Camping World

WOOD VILLAGE, OR — A Michigan man was arrested in Wood Village north of Gresham early Tuesday after allegedly breaking into Camping World, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

Chad Leslie Southwell, 31, was taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center on two counts of second degree burglary, possession of methamphetamine, theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools. He is being held on $26,000 bail.

Deputies were reportedly dispatched to Camping World, 24000 N.E. Sandy Blvd., around 3 a.m. Nov. 21 after an alarm went off there. While searching the property with help from K9 units out of Portland and Hillsboro, deputies found and arrested Southwell.

Southwell was most recently arrested in Multnomah County on the afternoon of Oct. 12 for possession of a stolen vehicle and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. His criminal history in Oregon goes back to 2014 and includes convictions for assault, possession of meth, and menacing, among other charges.

Formerly of Michigan, Southwell is on probation out of Klamath County for charges made in March 2015, and he is also facing possible extradition for a stolen property case out of Everett, Washington. He has reportedly lived in the Portland area for the past six months, though he also said he's been homeless for the past four years.

Southwell told police interviewers that for work he takes part-time odd jobs as a handyman.

Image via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office