See the images that led authorities to an alleged Springwater Trail mugger. So far, though, he’s spent less than a day in custody, and is now back on outer East Portland streets …
Along this secluded portion of the Springwater Corridor Trail in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, where a man was roughed up and his bike hijacked, the trail falls off steeply on either side.
Photos and story by David F. Ashton
When 69-year-old Gresham resident Jay Hamlin turned out to ride the Springwater Corridor Trail on his custom-made Colnago C-60 bicycle on July 11, he didn’t expect to be waylaid by ruffians seeking to make his ride their own.
But, that’s what happened – two youthful muggers stopped Hamlin, assaulted him, and grabbed his bike.
Young highwaymen spotted this bike, and decided to take it from its owner and rider – by force. Image courtesy of Jay Hamlin
With Hamlin’s foot caught in the bike’s frame, the hijackers violently tugged and pulled, the victim told reporters, until they ripped it free – causing him to tumble 20 feet down the steep embankment along the south side of the trail, and into blackberry bushes.
Finding his cell phone, Hamlin called 9-1-1 for help – which eventually came, but not soon enough for officials to be able to find his bike. “It’s the only one like it in Portland, and worth more than $10,000,” he said.
After being seen by paramedics, a friend snapped this photo of the robbery and assault victim, Jay Hamlin. Image courtesy of Jay Hamlin
Fate intervened when an alert citizen, having seen a photo of the unique stolen bike on the news, took a video of someone riding it in the Lents neighborhood, near SE 86th Avenue and Powell Boulevard, and sent it to Hamlin through a social media application.
After the video of the alleged bike hijacker was shared with news media, a person contacted law enforcement and provided information that resulted in identifying the suspect seen in the video.
Here, in this still frame from the video, the alleged thief is seen casually riding his “new” bike around outer East Portland.
On August 29, detectives assigned to the Portland Police Bureau Robbery Detail located and met with the suspect, 20-year-old Diovionne Green. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center 8:48 p.m. that evening on charges of Robbery in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony.
On August 30, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that his office filed charges in the alleged assault and robbery against Green.
Upon preliminary review of the case, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office filed a charging document that alleges one count of robbery in the third degree, one count of assault in the fourth degree, and one count of theft in the first degree.
Although facing three serious criminal charges, suspect 20-year-old Diovionne Green is set free by a kindly Multnomah County Court judge. MCDC booking photo
According to court documents, when interviewed by detectives, Green admitted that he stole the victim’s bike and that he took it to his mother’s house. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office was informed by law enforcement that the victim’s bicycle was recovered, and was returned to him.
After being charged with three crimes, a Multnomah County District Court judge set Green free, without bail, on the same day he was charged with three felony crimes – Official “Release Reason”: Released on Own Recognizance.
© 2019 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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