Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested In Possession Of Hoax Bomb Device (Photo) -02/13/25

Woodburn, OR:  On February 13, 2025, at approximately 10:00 AM in the area of N. Pacific Hwy and Lincoln Street, Woodburn Police detectives contacted a subject matching the description of an armed robbery suspect of two recent convenience store robberies. The suspect is identified as Nicolas Contreras-Salmion (Age 33), from Woodburn. 

 

During the contact, detectives discovered that Contreras-Salmion was wearing a possible "bomb" vest underneath his outer clothing.  The suspicious device was removed from the subject and left in place. The Oregon State Police bomb squad responded to the scene and determined the "bomb" vest was a hoax device.

 

The investigation determined that Nicolas Contreras-Salmion was responsible for an armed robbery at the Crossroad Grocery & Deli convenience store, (located at 303 N. Pacific Hwy in Woodburn) on January 19, 2025.  The second armed robbery occurred at the EZ-Stop Grocery and Deli convenience store, (located at 111 N. Front Street in Woodburn) on February 7, 2025.  In both incidents, Contreras-Salmion wore a makeshift "bomb" vest during the robberies.

 

The investigators recovered the "bomb" vest hoax device used from the Crossroads Grocery & Deli convenience store several days after the robbery in the area of Johnson Street and Bryan Street in Woodburn.  Investigators learned today that the second "bomb" vest hoax device from the EZ-Stop Grocery and Deli robbery was discarded in the 200 block of Harrison Street in Woodburn.  The Oregon State Police Bomb Squad responded to the scene and was able to determine the "bomb" vest was another hoax device.

 

In all three incidents, the recovered "bomb" vests were determined to be hoax devices.  Contreras-Salmion has cooperated in this investigation. The Woodburn Police Department does not have any further information at this time to believe there are any additional hoax devices.

 

Contreras-Salmion was arrested on two counts of Robbery II, three counts of a Possession of a Hoax Device, one count of Attempted Robbery II and was transported to the Marion County Jail.

 

The Woodburn Police Department (WPD) is requesting anyone with information on these cases to call the WPD at 503-982-2345 and ask to speak with Detective Jonny Ellis.  Reference Case #'s 25-1607 and 25-852.