Law enforcement is looking for a suspect wanted in connection with an attempted robbery of a gas station in Hermiston early Sunday morning.
According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, at around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, a man armed with a rifle, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a dark green bandana over his face, attempted to rob the Short Stop Gas Station located at 32553 East Punkin Center Road in Hermiston.
Two employees reported that they were working outside the store when they saw the man approach on foot from E. Punkin Center Road. According to the employees, the suspect ordered one of them to go inside the store. Instead, both employees ran across Highway 207 and called 911.
The employees also reported that the suspect tried to open the cash register, but it was locked. When the suspect could not open the cash register, he ran from the store without taking anything. The suspect ran west on E. Punkin Center Road and then got into a white four-door sedan, unknown make or model. The car then drove west on E. Punkin Center Road, according to the employees.
The employees described the suspect as about 6’ to 6’2″ tall, weighing approximately 120-140 pounds. He was also wearing a black baseball cap, dark colored gloves and white plaid shorts with lime green and navy stripes, and white socks pulled up over the calves. He was holding a black rifle.
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office is reviewing video footage from the store and the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about the robbery attempt or the suspect is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 541-966-3651.
