MEDIA RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Incident: Suspect in Burglary spree arrested by Springfield Police
Location: Springfield area
Case Number: 26-4899
Date/Time: August 4th, 2026 @ 2:00 PM
More Information: Public Information Coordinator | spdpi@springfield-or.gov
Completed By: Deputy Chief George Crolly
INVOLVED SUSPECT:
Wilbert Jason Purvis 42-Year-Old Male | Springfield
NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT:
On August 4th, 2026, at approximately 2pm, an employee at the Best Western Hotel on Kruse Way in Springfield called police to report an unknown male had just attempted to steal their cash till located behind their employee counter. When the employee heard the drawers being opened and confronted the suspect, he fled southbound on foot from the location. The employee provided a detailed description of the suspect to police.
Springfield Police officers and detectives saturated the Gateway Street area to look for the suspect. Upon reviewing the camera footage from Best Western, detectives were able to confirm the suspect was Wilbert Jason Purvis, as he was previously identified by Detectives as a suspect in previous crimes. Detectives had probable cause to believe Purvis was responsible for numerous other burglaries involving local businesses in the Eugene and Springfield area over the last month and a half, but he had not yet been located.
An employee of the Best Western Hotel posted the surveillance video to social media, which prompted several responses, one including from one person who reported the same subject had just departed the Mohawk Tavern 20 minutes prior. The suspect was found in the Tavern’s employee only area, attempting to break into their cash till. Springfield Police officers and detectives then responded to the Mohawk area to locate Purvis. Officers learned Purvis had been asked to leave from Prime-Time Sports Bar and Grill, Centennial Steakhouse, and Lucky Lil’s due to his behavior.
At approximately 3:30 PM (over 90 minutes after the original call for service) a Springfield Police detective observed Purvis board an LTD bus just south of Winco on Olympic Street. When confronted, Purvis tried to flee out the rear of the bus but was quickly taken into custody without incident.
At the time of his arrest, Purvis had already changed his clothes to include his pants and shirt, disposing of his sweatshirt in a nearby trash can. Purvis had another set of clothes in his backpack, along with over $2,000 in cash.
Purvis was identified as the suspect in numerous Burglaries in the Eugene/Springfield area. Purvis was later transported to and lodged at the Lane County Jail on the listed charges.
CHARGES:
Burglary 2 (9)
Theft 2 (x5)
Criminal Mischief 2
