Reward posted for outer East Portland ‘Pizza Bandit’

Help put a stop to this gun-toting thug’s criminal career before he hurts someone. Burn this bandit, and get $1,000 and cash …

This was the first stop on the Pizza Bandit’s hit list on December 13. You can help make it one of his last.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The fact he was caught on surveillance video robbing a pizza restaurant at gunpoint didn’t keep this cocky bandit from demanding dough from another pizza store, later that evening.

“The Portland Police Bureau, in cooperation with Crime Stoppers, is asking for your help in identifying an outer East Portland robbery suspect,” Portland Police Bureau spokesperson, Detective Mary Wheat told us.

On Sunday, December 13, the robber’s mini-crime spree began at 5:23 p.m., when he strode into the Pizza Hut at 1747 SE 122nd Avenue, Wheat said. “He was alone, and armed with a handgun. The suspect entered the store, jumped over the counter, made threats, and demanded money. The suspect then fled the scene.”

A couple of hours later, the Pizza Bandit robbed this Papa Murphy’s Pizza store in the Gateway area.

Not satisfied with his take, a person believed to be the same armed suspect walked into the Papa Murphy’s Pizza store at 11635 NE Halsey Street about two hours later, at 7:26 p.m.

“The suspect walked behind the counter and demanded money,” Wheat reported. The suspect then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. After a short pursuit by police, the suspect then abandoned the vehicle and fled. He later attempted to break into a nearby residence. This suspect remains at large.”

Because this is a still photo shot from a video frame, the quality isn’t the best – but here, you can see this young, suspected thug in action, as provided by the Bureau’s Detective Mike Smith.

Portland Police Bureau detectives say the suspect is an olive-skinned white male, in his 20’s, 5’5-5’7″ tall, approximately 150 pounds, with a thin build, short curly black hair, and decaying teeth.

“In the Pizza Hut robbery he was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, a blue baseball cap and dark- framed sunglasses,” Wheat pointed out. “In the Papa Murphy’s robbery his jacket was black and orange.”

Here’s a better look at the suspect, caught in the act as he allegedly robs the Gateway area Papa Murphy’s store.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony – and you remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP (4357) or leave a tip online at their website: CLICK HERE. Or, if you have leads, call the investigator, Detective Mike Smith directly at (503) 823-0871

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