See both men taken into custody, after their botched stick-up attempt …
Police units roll in, after the report of an attempted armed robbery at the corner of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and Powell Boulevard.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
An attempted armed robbery in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven Store at the corner of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and Powell Boulevard led to a foot pursuit by Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers about 12:30 p.m. on March 30.
“There were two guys, and one of them flashed a black gun, trying to rob guys in the parking lot,” reported Damien Williams, who said he’d been waiting for a bus across the street.
“One guy came [west] across the street, and over to the shopping center,” Williams told East Portland News. “The other one was walking back and forth, between the Tic-Toc [Restaurant and Bar] and [Best Value Inns] motel.”
Officers stand guard, after witnesses point out where an armed robbery suspect had hopped a locked fence gate.
With calls coming in to the 9-1-1 Center reporting the pair of suspects, fully a dozen PPB East Precinct police cruisers converged on the intersection.
Responding police spotted the suspect on 82nd Avenue of Roses. “The man ran from officers and attempted to hide,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson.
With a bolt cutter, an officer cuts the lock off the gate.
Inside the fenced area, police find one of the suspects.
As officers watched, the suspect ran across 82nd Avenue of Roses, and jumped a fence between the Berry’s Southeast Coin and Jewelry and an apartment building just to its west.
Police walk suspect 28-year-old Ahad Muhammad out of the fenced area.
After cutting the lock of the fence gate, officers proceed cautiously, and found the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Ahad Muhammad, trying to hide in fenced-off area.
“Muhammad was in possession of an Airsoft replica firearm in his backpack, and had a warrant for parole violation,” said Simpson.
At the door of “Lotos Deli 2”, officers command a suspect to exit.
After that suspect take-down, police units swarmed west, to the area of the L-shaped strip mall at 7901 SE Powell Boulevard, just south of the new WinCo grocery store, still under construction.
“Witness told officers that the second man, who also had a gun, had been ducking in an out of area businesses to avoid police contact,” Simpson said.
Hands raised, 29-year-old Melvin James Williams surrenders to police.
An employee of “Lotos Deli 2” came out and flagged down police.
“Officers located the second man, 29-year-old Melvin James Williams, and took him into custody; officers seized another Airsoft replica firearm from a nearby trash can and determined that Williams was the person seen displaying the gun earlier,” Simpson added.
28-year-old Ahad Muhammad is charged with Parole Violation. MCDC booking photo
Ahad Muhammad was booked into Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 2:04 p.m. that afternoon on a charge of Parole Violation. Muhammad remains in custody without bail.
29-year-old Melvin James Williams is charged with Disorderly Conduct, but is released the same afternoon. MCDC booking photo
Melvin James Williams was booked into MCDC at 2:01 p.m. on a charge of Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree. Later that afternoon, Williams was set free, without bail: “Released on Own Recognizance”.
© 2016 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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