Second gunman, getaway driver arrested after Gresham robbery

Victims, bystanders wrestled other suspect to the ground

By Mara Stine And Taryn Luna

The Gresham Outlook, Jun 23, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (9 Reader comments)

Contributed photo

Lindsen L. Charles and Erica C. Perez

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Police arrested a second gunman and a getaway driver suspected of being accomplices to a man already in custody after an alleged attempted robbery Tuesday, June 23, of La Tapatia Market, at 18330 S.E. Stark St.

Employees and patrons of the Hispanic grocery nabbed one of the gunman, a 17-year-old male, and held him until police arrived. The second alleged gunman, Lindsen L. Charles, 36, of Gresham ran to a vehicle allegedly driven by Erica C. Perez, 32, of Portland, and fled east on Stark Street.

Following accurate descriptions by witnesses and several leads, Charles and Perez were arrested at 3:47 p.m. Tuesday afternoon as they attempted to drive away from a residence in Fairview. Both of the suspects are being charged with robbery in the first degree with a firearm. The 17-year-old is facing alleged charges of robbery in the first degree with a firearm and attempted murder.

The two men entered the market at 10:53 a.m. and demanded cash, said Sgt. Mike LeDuc, Gresham police spokesman.

Employees handed over an undisclosed amount of money and the gunmen fled out the rear service entrance.

Several patrons and employees chased after the robber and the 17-year-old fired a shotgun at an employee. The employee was not injured. In fact, he and several others wrestled the shotgun from the young man.

Nobody was injured in the robbery and the suspects didn’t menace or order the customers to the ground. However, paramedics took an elderly female employee who was suffered chest pains to Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.

About five of six parents of children attending a soccer camp at Portland Lutheran School just south of the market helped apprehend the young gunman, said the school’s Executive Director Donn Maier.

The four-day camp is a partnership between the school and nearby Ascension Lutheran Church to teach local children about positive choices and healthy behaviors as a deterrent to gang involvement.

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