MARION COUNTY, Ore. — Marion County sheriff's deputies arrested six people — four of them juveniles — after they allegedly went on a crime spree that included multiple burglaries, a stolen car, stolen guns and drugs.
Around 4 p.m. Monday, deputies said they tried to pull over a Jeep Wrangler for an equipment violation, but the driver wouldn't stop, ran red lights and continued driving recklessly trying to get away. Deputies used spike strips to deflate the tires and eventually the driver stopped about two miles away. The driver and five passengers ran from the car.
Deputies located and arrested all six people and recovered two stolen handguns. Inside the car, which deputies learned had been reported stolen from Tualatin a few days prior, deputies found an AR-15 style rifle, meth and cash. Deputies also found evidence linking the group to burglaries of multiple stores in Camas that happened Sunday morning.
“They'd thrown a rock through the front door and there was glass everywhere,” said Karen Gibson, co-owner of Papermaker Pride.
Gibson said the burglars stole some cash and a few items from the store, which they later tossed in the street. Store owners said burglars also broke into Caps ‘N Taps, Camas Slices and The Birch Street Uptown Lounge. The Camas Police Department said in a Thursday news release that detectives were able to establish probable cause for a burglary at the Washougal Food Mart as well.
Word of the break-ins spread fast around town.
“People saw and they came with their gloves, they wanted to help clean up,” said Gibson. “We are all small businesses.”
Deputies arrested two adults — 19-year-old Zachary Retonong from Salem and 23-year-old Arnes Johnmark from Happy Valley. The four juveniles included a 14-year-old boy from Portland, an 11-year-old boy from Happy Valley, a 13-year-old boy from Portland and a 16-year-old boy from Portland. The group faces charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and criminal trespass. The 14-year-old driver also faces charges for delivery of methamphetamine.
The Camas Police Department said Thursday in a release that burglary and theft charges for the four Camas businesses and the Washougal Food Mart will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutors Office for Johnmark, Retonong and the 14-year-old and 11-year-old juveniles.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that the 11-year-old was previously arrested after a crime spree in Portland that included robbing a man at gunpoint and running him down in a vehicle when he tried to flee.
Police did not release the names of the underage suspects. The juveniles were taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and the adults were booked into the Marion County Jail.