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A retail theft mission held in Tigard led to nearly two dozen arrests, as well as the recovery of stolen merchandise, a replica gun and methamphetamine.
This marks the first mission held in Washington County since the Washington County District Attorney’s office was awarded a $1.5 million dollar federal grant to combat retail theft, allowing for law enforcement and prosecutors to engage in more joint retail theft missions. During these missions, detectives and patrol officers work directly with loss prevention employees inside stores to identify and interrupt criminal activity as its happening.
Held Friday, September 6, 2024, Tigard Police officers and detectives with TPD’s Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU) worked with loss prevention employees at stores in Tigard. During the event:
- 21 people were arrested on a range of charges, including theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine and several outstanding felony/misdemeanor arrest warrants
- Stolen merchandise worth roughly $1,700 was recovered
- A realistic looking replica handgun that officers learned was an air soft gun was recovered from a juvenile who was arrested
- One person led officers on a foot pursuit before being arrested
Officers also assisted with a suspicious package that turned out to be safe, and a reported strong-arm robbery that turned out to be a theft call during the mission.
We’d like to thank our partners at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsboro Police, Beaverton Police and the Washington County DA’s Office for their support during the mission.
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An investigation into the death of a man after he was stopped by a loss prevention employee has been referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s office.
On August 9, 2024 at 9:54 am, a disturbance was reported at the Safeway store on Tigard’s south end (15570 SW Pacific Highway). Officers from the Tigard and King City Police Departments responded to the scene. They learned a loss prevention worker had stopped a man who was suspected of shoplifting and was holding him on the ground. Witnesses told officers the man was being held by the neck at some point.
When officers arrived, the man was unconscious. Witnesses told officers the loss prevention worker began CPR, then another store employee took over. When officers arrived, they continued CPR and applied an AED until paramedics arrived to take the man to the hospital.
The man who was hospitalized has been identified as Michael Letendre, age 46. Sadly, he passed away at the hospital on August 16th.
The loss prevention worker is not an employee of Safeway; he works for a private security company that contracts with the store. Because he has not been criminally charged at this time, his name is not being released.
Tigard Police Detectives responded to the scene and are leading the investigation, in consultation with the Washington County Major Crimes Team. Detectives are continuing to gather information, which is being reviewed by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s office will make a determination as to whether a grand jury should be convened to review potential criminal charges in this case.
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