Woodburn Independent Online

Woodburn man arrested in Colton robbery

Four suspects arrested Thursday night in connection with Colton Market robbery

• By: Bethany Monroe  
• Published: 9/4/2009 4:03:04 PM

Photo Courtesy of CCSO
A handgun was located during a search of the suspect Honda automobile and retained as evidence of the crime.

Four suspects from Milwaukie, Woodburn and Portland were arrested near Meadowbrook on Highway 211 late last night (Thursday) after an armed robbery near the Colton Market.

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office received report of the armed robbery at 10:39 p.m. Thursday. The victim, John Lower III of Colton, said he had been robbed at gunpoint when he and his fiancée, Jennifer Slack, pulled into the Colton Market parking lot, according to a CCSO press release. They attempted to follow the suspect vehicle, a black 1996 Honda Accord.

A Molalla Police Department officer spotted the vehicle traveling south on Highway 211 near the Meadowbrook Store, at 10:48 p.m. CCSO deputies joined MPD to conduct a felony stop on the highway near Riverview Lane.

The driver and three passengers in the Honda were all removed without incident and transported to Clackamas County Jail. The four suspects are Alex Paul Ketcherside, 20, of Woodburn; Michelle Kristin Wells, 18, of Portland; Caleb Nathan Wheeler, 20, of Milwaukie; and Zachary Charles Wellock, 18, of Milwaukie.

Wheeler was lodged with charges of robbery in the first degree, unlawful use of a weapon and pointing a firearm at another person. His bail was set at $272,500. Ketcherside, Wells and Wellock were all lodged on charges of conspiracy to commit a robbery in the first degree. Bail for each was set at $250,000.

Lower told officers that the suspect vehicle pulled in front of his car as he entered the parking lot at Colton Market and that two males exited the Honda and ordered him to step out of his car, according to CCSO.
Wheeler allegedly pulled out a handgun and Lower told police they took his cash and cigarettes and fled the scene. CCSO Public Information Officer Jim Strovink said the amount of money stolen is not being released at this time. Police found a handgun inside the suspect vehicle when they searched it following the arrests.

CCSO urges anyone with information concerning this crime to call the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office confidential tip line at 503-723-4949 or by using the online e-mail form.

The public can also submit crime tip text messages from a cell phone. Send a text message to CRIMES (274637 on your phone keypad) with the keyword CCSO as the first word in the message body. Emergency messages should not be sent by text, but should instead be reported by calling 911.

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