A chase from Vancouver into Portland for suspected robbers in a stolen car led to the arrest of two men at Northeast 148th Avenue and Halsey Street on Sunday morning.
Sgt. Scott Creager of the Vancouver Police Department said at 7:45 a.m. a robber wearing a bandanna held up the Subway at 1125 S.E. 163rd Ave. A press release said the suspect implied he had a gun and fled with money from the till and a bag of Sun Chips.
Seven minutes later, a robbery was reported at the Chevron station at 16406 S.E. 26th St. The cashier was able to get the make of the vehicle and a license plate number.
A Vancouver police officer saw the car and followed it westbound on Mill Plain Boulevard at 155th Avenue. The suspect drove southbound on Interstate 205 into Portland.
The Portland Police Bureau then joined the pursuit.
Officers chased the suspected vehicle until it left the road and was disabled at 148th and Halsey.
Portland police then arrested the suspects, Eric Robert Leonard, 27, of Ridgefield and Jerry Lee Venters, 21, of Vancouver. They were booked into the Multnomah County Jail.
Venters was arrested on suspicion of attempting to elude, criminal mischief, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, unlawful possession of a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a first-degree robbery warrant from
Clark County. No bail was allowed.
Leonard was arrested on suspicion of a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm and a Clark County warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle. Bail also was not allowed.
KATU-TV reported that investigators discovered the car was stolen from a J.C. Penney parking lot. The owner of the vehicle, who was shopping, didn’t know what had happened until police contacted her.
