Amber Alert in The Dalles ends with boy safe, suspect arrested

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A 5-year-old boy from The Dalles was found in Dufur this morning, nearly three hours after police say he was kidnapped.

Skylar Meldin Coulcer-Jarding was taken from his home around 5:40 a.m. after a man entered the house and assaulted two adults with a hammer, according to the Oregon State Police. Troopers identified Brian Lester Depriest, 36, as the suspect.

An Ambert Alert was issued about 7:30 a.m. today about the boy’s abduction, said Lt. Gregg Hastings of the OSP. The boy was found safe and Depriest arrested around 8:30 a.m.

Dufur is about 15 miles south of The Dalles. Both towns are in Wasco County.

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