See how the police took down both of the armed robbers who stuck up a Gateway area deli …
This Hazelwood neighborhood establishment, Original Joe’s Deli, was robbed again this week, after being held up in March of 2014.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A combination of good police work, officers being “in the right place at the right time”, and high technology helped bring to justice two men suspected of robbing the Original Joe’s Deli, at 10200 NE Halsey Street, on the evening of February 17.
Just moments after an armed robber held up the deli, a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Traffic Division officer saw a white Chevy Equinox driving recklessly at NE 102nd Avenue and Halsey Street.
“The officer attempted to make a stop, but the driver made some quick turns and the officer lost sight of the vehicle,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson.
During the brief pursuit, police dispatchers broadcast information about the robbery at Original Joe’s.
A rainstorm doesn’t stop officers from seeking armed robbers.
“Believing that the robbery and the reckless driving were related events,” Simpson said, “officers from East Precinct, North Precinct, the Traffic Division, the Gang Enforcement Team, and a Canine Unit converged in the area to search for the suspects.”
Officers searching the outer East Portland neighborhoods spotted the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, which had reportedly been stolen from Enterprise Rental.
The suspected getaway driver was located shortly afterward in the Woodland Park neighborhood, at NE 101st Avenue and Bell Drive, and was taken into custody.
Police look for evidence, and find it stashed on nearby neighborhood streets.
“Officers continued to search the neighborhood and found cash, clothing, and a handgun believed to be used in the robbery – and these items were seized as evidence,” Simpson said. “Officers discovered that the handgun was an Airsoft replica firearm.”
Typically, the Police Bureau keeps mum about their “eye in the sky” they call the “Air Support Unit” that command staff called in to search for the potentially armed suspects. But this time, they told reporters how they found the second suspect using infrared cameras overhead.
In this video capture, the suspect is by the house on the left, officers, including a K9 team, are closing in from the right. CLICK HERE to see the youtu.be video clip provided by Portland Police shot from their “eye in the sky”.
“The ‘Air Support Unit’ reported seeing a heat signature in the area consistent with a person hiding behind a fence near NE 100th Avenue and NE Weidler Street,” Simpson reported.
43-year-old Kendall Jeris Kuhns is the man suspected of robbing Original Joe’s. MCDC booking photo
The first suspect captured – believed to be the actual robber – was identified as 43-year-old Kendall Jeris Kuhns.
Kuhns was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 5:17 a.m. the following morning on charges of Robbery in the First Degree, and Robbery in the Second Degree. Kuhns remains in custody at MCDC in lieu of combined bail of $500,000.
Charged with being the robbery get-away driver – in an allegedly stolen truck – is 47-year-old Gary R. Doser. MCDC booking photo
The suspect the Aerial Observation Unit helped to pinpoint for officers was identified as 47-year-old Gary R. Doser.
Doser, the suspected driver, was booked into MCDC at 3:12 a.m. on charges of Robbery in the Second Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. After his arraignment, Doser’s combined bail was set at $255,000; he is also being held on a parole violation, at Multnomah County Inverness Jail.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate additional robberies in the Portland area, and both suspects may face additional charges,” Simpson said. “Anyone with information about these suspects and their connection to armed robberies should contact the Robbery Detail at 503-823-0405.”
© 2016 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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