The 11th Street Market in Hermiston was robbed at gunpoint late Thursday night and the Hermiston Police Department is seeking information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Just prior to midnight on Thursday, HPD officers responded to the 11th Street Market on a report of an armed robbery that just occurred. Officers were on scene within minutes and quickly canvassed the area in and around the business located at 425 N.W. 11th St.
Officers were initially told a tall, slender, white male wearing a dark ski mask, a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and a dark overcoat, had brandished a handgun and demanded money. The male clerk complied with the demand and a minor amount of money was given to the subject who then fled on foot southbound.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said Hermiston detectives were called to the scene and began collecting as much evidence as possible to include video surveillance.
“Though this is still very much an active investigation, we are releasing a video still picture of the suspect,” Edmiston said. “That picture shows a very unique coat when looking at the buttons on the front. A coat that could be similar to that of a Navy pea coat.”
Edmiston said that after reviewing all video, officers are not able to determine the exact race of the suspect but believe the male to be between 5’6” and 6’0”. Additionally, the male was wearing black and white Nike shoes similar to the picture being released and the male had a ring on the middle finger of his left hand.
“We are hoping someone in the public may recognize either the clothing of this person or the ring on the middle finger of the left hand,” Edmiston said. “If anyone has information, we ask they call Lt. Randy Studebaker at 541-667-5095.”
Edmiston took issue with comments made on social media about the level of violent crime in Hermiston.
“Hermiston has historically had a lower violent crime rate as compared to other like-sized communities,” he said. “Over the course of the last 10 years we have experienced an average of 10 robberies per year. In 2017, we experienced six robberies. By statute in Oregon, a robbery can be committed either with force during the act of a theft or with the brandishing of a weapon during a theft. Not all our robberies involve weapons yet it is very unfortunate we are starting 2018 off with this robbery which did involve a weapon.”
Hermiston is not different then any other town. Crime is taking place all over, we just don’t hear about what is happening in other small communities.
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