Police capture armed storage-locker robbers

Thanks to good police work, armed robbers who’d been intent on stealing from storage lockers in Montavilla, were busted trying to fly out of Portland …

Here at this Public Storage facility in outer East Portland, armed gunmen demanded keys from the employee on duty.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When two men strolled into the Public Storage facility at 1202 SE 82nd Avenue of Roses Avenue, at about 10:30 a.m. on December 2, they quickly made it clear they weren’t there to rent a locker.

Brandishing handguns, the two ruffians tied up the worker on duty, and made off with keys to the facility – perhaps not realizing that each storage unit is actually secured by the renter’s own lock.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers responded to the armed robbery report, but the suspects had already fled the area.

Police and detectives come to investigate this daylight armed robbery attempt.

“Officers learned that the victim was able to get free and have someone call 9-1-1,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson. “During the investigation, officers learned that the two suspects had made their way to Parkrose, and by then were inside the Portland International Airport.

“Coordinating with the Port of Portland Police Department, Portland Police arrested both suspects without incident, and turned them over to Portland Police Bureau Robbery detectives as part of the ongoing investigation,” Simpson said, adding that detectives had also arrested a third person in connection with the crime.

In addition to facing six felony charges, 28-year-old Jody T. Wafer is being held by order of the US Marshall. MCDC booking photo

The first suspected booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) was 28-year-old Jody T. Wafer, on charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Kidnap in the First Degree. Wafer entered the system at 7:01 p.m. At his arraignment in Multnomah County Court on December 4, the judge set the combined bail for Wafer at $1.5 Million; but he remains in custody at Inverness Jail without bail on a US Marshall’s “Hold”.

While her involvement remains unclear, 27-year-old Brittany Kizzee also faces a half-dozen felony charges. MCDC booking photo

27-year-old Brittany Kizzee was also lodged in MCDC 8:26 p.m. on the same charges as Wafer. The judge also set Kizzee’s combined bail at $1.5 Million; but she too remains held in Inverness Jail without bail on a US Marshall’s “Hold”.

29-year-old Trent L. Knight is ordered by the US Marshall Service to be held, regardless of bail. MCDC booking photo

Finally, 29-year-old Trent L. Knight was booked in MCDC at 9:29 p.m. that evening, also on charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Kidnap in the First Degree. At his arraignment, Knight’s combined bail was also set at $1.5 Million; but he also remains held in Inverness Jail without bail on a US Marshall’s “Hold”.

Just what these suspects hoped to gain from this perhaps fruitless robbery hasn’t been revealed – but the public is safer, Simpson commented, now that these three individuals are off the street.

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