Hazelwood carjackers caught

One of these accused hoodlums is facing felony ‘Measure 11’ charges …

It wasn’t this “stock” image of a 2014 Subaru Forester that was stolen, but this photo did help find the three teenage ruffians who carjacked one like it in the Hazelwood neighborhood by suspects found in outer East Portland.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A man, trying to help out a teenager, ended up being carjacked on March 8, about 8:00 p.m. in the Hazelwood neighborhood in the area of SE 117th Avenue and Alder Street.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers said that man, who was driving home with his teenaged son, was flagged down by a Black male teenager in the street who appeared to be asking for help.

Officers come to the Hazelwood neighborhood to investigate a carjacking.

“The victim rolled down the window and the teen was joined by two other Black male teens,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Chris Burley.

But instead of requesting help, the victim, Sean Connolly, told reporters the teen demanded, “That’s a nice car, I want it. Get the [expletive] out of the car [expletive], I’ve got a gun!” with his right arm behind is back as if holding a handgun.

“They told us to put our hands up in the air, and get out the car,” Connolly recalled. “But what really got me was when he said, ‘Do you want me to shoot you in front of your son?’”

“The victim got out of his car and he and the initial teen suspect engaged in a physical confrontation,” Burley reported. “The other suspects got into the car and eventually the third suspect joined them and they drove away in the victim’s vehicle.

“No gun was actually seen during this robbery, and neither of the victims was injured,” Burley said.

Officers are tipped off to the location of the carjacked Subaru, and close in, waiting for the suspects to arrive.

The carjacked Subaru turned up on SE 123rd Avenue, just north of SE Salmon Street, on March 13 at 6:32 p.m., bringing East Precinct and Canine Unit officers to the area.

“As officers remained near the stolen Subaru – but out of sight – they observed three juvenile males enter the vehicle and begin to drive away,” Burley said. “The officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled, and officers pursued the vehicle.”

Closing off streets in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, officers pursue the fleeing suspects.

Officers pursued the car south through the neighborhoods to SE Powell Boulevard, west to SE 102nd Avenue, and south to where it crashed into a parked and unoccupied Subaru Outback, at SE Center Street.

The trio inside the stolen car took off on foot; officers locked down this part of the Lents neighborhood and began searching with the assistance of a PPB canine team.

The keen nose of the police dog lead officers east, through back yards, and north on SE 104th Avenue, where the trio of suspects were found hiding behind a home near SE Francis Street. Two of the youths took off running, but didn’t get far.

“The suspects were taken into custody without incident,” Burley said.

On the other side of these police units, suspects are taken into custody.

According to Multnomah County Court documents, 15-year-old Ali Hassan Ali was charged with Robbery in the First Degree and Robbery in the Second Degree – both are Measure 11 crimes – as well as Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Attempt to Elude – Motor Vehicle, and he was lodged at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center (JDH).

An unidentified male 14-year-old was also lodged at JDH on a warrant for a previous conviction of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle.

“A third juvenile detained that evening was released to the custody of a guardian,” Burley remarked.

© 2018 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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