The Lottery Security Section of the Oregon State Police has arrested an Oregon man who has who allegedly stole a winning $50,000 scratch-off ticket. The man was arrested when he showed up at the lottery headquarters to claim the $50,000 prize.

According to Lieutenant Gregg Hastings, the theft was reported the same day by a Idaho resident back on Dec. 26th of 2007. According to Oregon State Police,

"The victim reported that on December 26th she was dining with her son at the Denny's Restaurant located at 987 Kruse Way in Springfield. The victim stopped for lunch before driving to Oregon Lottery Headquarters in Salem to claim her prize on a winning $50,000 'Green & Gold' scratch-it ticket she had purchased two days earlier at a Stanfield, Oregon truck stop."

The lottery ticket was kept in a notebook during the meal and was accidently left behind. After returning about 15 minutes later the table was clear and notebook and ticker were missing.
Again according to police, "The restaurant employee who cleared the table, identified as 41-year old Charles Michael Dizick of Springfield, denied seeing or taking the notebook."

A 21 year old man showed up the next day and after further investigation from the Lottery Security Section, it was determined that Dizick had contacted the man to claim the money because he couldn’t due to owed back taxes and child support. Dizick came to lottery headquarters with the man and was later arrested for Aggravated Theft in the First Degree.

The victim was able to reclaim the ticket and receive her cash prize of $50,000.


- 2008-01-07