Robert McVicker wanted to get his bike back, police said.

Happy Valley police had seized the $700 mountain bike when officers arrested him Thursday and booked him into the Clackamas County Jail on suspicion of trespassing. A resident had called 911 and reported seeing McVicker take items from houses under construction. McVicker, 31, was released from jail Friday on his own recognizance.

The Happy Valley police officer who arrested him called to inquire about the bike, and McVicker asked for it to be returned. Officer Stephanie Cronk obliged, and they agreed to meet at the police station.

But Cronk had been suspicious about his bike ownership claims before the arrangement.

McVicker had told Cronk that he spotted the bike being offered for free on the porch of a person who was being evicted, police said. So he took it.

One of Cronk’s colleague’s tracked down the shop where the bike had been originally purchased. The shop provided the buyer’s name, and Cronk contacted the man.

The bike had been stolen from the man’s porch in July and he never reported it stolen because he didn’t have the serial number, police said.

McVicker showed up to police station on Monday for the bike. He later left without it, arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft.

The bike was returned to the owner. McVicker was released from jail again later that day on his own recognizance.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey

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