‘Assault Lumber’ weapon of choice for Gateway armed robber

See who police are accusing of assaulting and robbing a Mexican convenience store in the Hazelwood Neighborhood …

It wasn’t a gun the suspect used when he “stuck up” the hapless employees at this Hispanic convenience store.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A broad-daylight armed robbery was committed, a few minutes after noon on January 26 in the Gateway District, at the Maria Tienda Mexicana, 11146 NE Halsey Street.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct district officers rolled to the scene at 12:21 p.m., and learned that the employee of the store had been assaulted and robbed.

“A witness chased the suspect out of the store, and into the neighborhood,” said PPB Public Information Officer, Sgt. Pete Simpson.

Using dimensioned lumber as an assault weapon, a suspect intent on robbery went on the attack. (This photo is an illustration of a “2×2”, not the actual assault lumber weapon used in the attack.)

The clerk told police that the suspect had used a “wooden 2 x 2 stick” to strike him, and then take money from the business. The suspect then ran out of the store, chased by another employee.

The alleged bandit ran, but he could not hide from the PPB K-9 Unit who tracked him down, a couple of blocks from the store.

“The suspect was taken into custody without incident,” Simpson said. “The victim did not require any medical attention.”

Police arrested this suspect, 19-year-old Toby Wylie, for robbing the Hispanic convenience store.

There was no report whether officers had also located the assault timber used in the crime when they took 19-year-old Toby Wylie into custody, seven minutes after they arrived on scene.

Records show that Wylie was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 4:24 p.m., charged with Robbery in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree.

The accused assault-lumber-armed robber is staying here, at JDH, for a while, officials say.

After his arraignment on January 28, Wylie was remanded to the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home, in lieu of combined bail of $750,000; and also on a United States Immigration “hold”.

Related to this story …
It’s been rumored that more than one Oregon legislator is considering introducing a bill banning the sale of 2 x 2 dimensioned assault lumber in lengths longer than one foot to unlicensed builders and remodelers. This hearsay remains unconfirmed at this writing.

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