By RYAN PFEIL

Mail Tribune

A Jackson County man who allegedly stole a Medford couple’s credit cards and truck and racked up thousands of dollars in charges on the stolen cards was arrested on Memorial Day.

Jonathan Paul McDonald, 25, remained in the Jackson County Jail on charges of identity theft, credit card fraud, and first- and third-degree theft. His bail was set at $35,000, jail records show.

Jackson County sheriff’s deputies arrested McDonald at 3:30 a.m. Monday at the Brookside Inn, 2020 Leigh Way, in White City. Police had received a phone call of a suspicious vehicle parked in the back lot that had driven up and stopped, with no one leaving the vehicle. Sheriff’s deputies responded and ran the vehicle’s license plate.

“It popped up as a vehicle associated with Mr. McDonald,” said Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Andrea Carlson.

McDonald is suspected of breaking into the Medford home of Betsy and Wynn Wilson on May 14 and swiping Betsy’s purse and keys to the couple’s 2013 Toyota Tacoma. He allegedly returned to the home May 16, keys in hand, and stole the truck.

McDonald allegedly used the stolen cards and racked up thousands of dollars in charges at local gas stations, a Sprint cell phone store, Walmart and Lowes. Police said he purchased cigarettes, toiletries, a prepaid gift card and clothing, paid an outstanding phone bill, and made an unidentified $5,000 purchase at Lowe’s. He also made a $4,000 online purchase that was later canceled.

Video surveillance from the stores identified McDonald as a suspect in the case. Police recovered the truck in a roadside ditch in Talent last week. It had sustained some front-end damage.

Police said McDonald has been arrested five times since March 19 for numerous crimes, including burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of heroin and methamphetamine. Court records show all those cases are still open.

Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or rpfeil@mailtribune.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.