Over $7,000 reward offered for suspect accused of stealing from farm workers.

Damian Castellano
– Facebook photo

Over $7,000 reward offered for suspect accused of stealing from farm workers.

‘The suspect sprang from the (patrol) car and fled through a corn field on foot.’

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP — A group of local farmers has issued a reward totaling over $7,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Damian J. Castellano, 23, who is wanted by police for a recent rash of thefts and burglaries from farm workers, according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

The reward will be awarded to the person or persons who turn over information to the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office that leads to Castellano’s arrest, said Sheriff Mast.  

“The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police have been investigating a long string of thefts and burglaries that have been centered around the local farms and their Hispanic workforce,” states Mast in a press release issued Thursday, Aug. 18. “In these incidents, cash, cell phones, identification documents and other personal items have been stolen.  

“Yesterday afternoon, we received information about a potential suspect vehicle in the Crystal Valley area. We were also given the names of potential suspects. Deputies and troopers were patrolling the Crystal Valley area when the suspect vehicle was located. The vehicle was stopped, and some stolen property was located. The occupants were identified, and some were found to have warrants from local agencies and also from Texas for different forms of theft.  

“During the investigation, the prime suspect was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car. As the investigation continued, the suspect was seen moving about in the car. When an officer went to check on him, the suspect sprang from the car and fled through a corn field on foot. Although the area was searched by officers, K-9 teams, and drones, we were not able to locate him as of yet.”

Castellano is 5’7″;  weighs 168 pounds; and has black hair and dark brown eyes. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should call the Mason/Oceana Central Dispatch at (231) 869-5858.         

Damian Castellano
– Facebook photo

Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.

This story is copyrighted © 2022, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.