Teens caught, after robbing construction worker in Hazelwood

Find out what it took for police to apprehend a trio of juvenile muggers in the Russellville area of outer East Portland …

In the Russellville district of the Hazelwood neighborhood, officers converge to apprehend teenagers, suspected of a very adult crime.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A trio of teen assailants spotted a worker by himself at the Traditions at Hazelwood construction site along East Burnside Street near 105th Avenue on Thursday afternoon, September 5 and apparently thought he’d be an easy target for a robbery.

The band of youthful would-be gangsters made their move, robbed him, and ran off. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were sent to the scene at 3:56 p.m.

The incident started at the construction site, seen in the background, just north of the TriMet MAX Light Rail tracks.

“A construction worker hooking up a trailer was assaulted and robbed by juvenile suspects who left the scene,” is how PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen started the story of the criminal incident.

“While an officer was investigating, he saw the suspects returning,” Sergeant Allen continued. “One suspect appeared to be armed with a gun, and refused the officers’ commands to show his hands.

“The officer requested ‘Code 3’ emergency backup cover from other officers to get help with the dangerous encounter,” he went on. Arriving officers were able to detain all three suspects; however, the gun was not found,” informed Allen.

Good questions; no answers
“Why aren’t these kids in school?” wondered a neighbor aloud.

“Where are their parents; and where did they get the ‘fifth’ of booze?” another mused to East Portlane News as they watched the arrest.

Officers discuss evidence found with the suspects. Note the bottle of “liquid courage” on the patrol vehicle’s hood.

18-year-old Tyler James Anderson, of Lake Oswego, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 7:21 p.m. the same day of his arrest on two Felony charges: Robbery in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Third Degree.

Gets out of jail, free …
However, Anderson wasn’t in custody for long – in fact, for less than a day. Our kindly judicial system released him the day after is arrest, paying no bail, even though he’s charged with two violent Felonies. Release Reason: Close Street Supervision. Apparently, he’ll be supervised, closely, somehow, while residing in Lake Oswego.

This suspect objected loudly to being photographed in the police car, after being captured.

Also, two juvenile male suspects, ages 15 and 16, were booked in the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention facility on charges of Robbery in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. The 16 year old was also charged with Menacing.

If you have more information about this crime, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and refer to Case No. 23-261592.

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