Five Arrested in Armed Robbery of Dispensary

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Five people were taken into custody Friday night after the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team spent hours searching for armed suspects in the Hollywood District.

Police said the suspects were wanted in connection to an armed robbery at a dispensary on NE Sandy Boulevard Friday afternoon, KATU reported. Those suspects drove away from the store and got onto Interstate-84, at one point driving faster than 100 miles per hour, according to police.

Officers arrested two suspects, but three remained outstanding. That’s when authorities activated SERT and warned residents in the area to stay inside and lock their doors while police searched for the suspects, who were believed to still be armed.

Some neighbors, like Chris Healy were out when the search began. They had to stay out in the rain for hours before they were allowed to go back home.

“They sent out a notice, police had our building surrounded, they thought someone might have jumped our back fence and been running around somewhere. Police said there were people with guns, someone with guns and that I couldn’t get any closer.”

Roughly three hours later, just before 6 p.m., Portland police reported that five people in total had been detained. PPB’s burglary team is now verifying the suspects’ identities--police have not disclosed any criminal charges.