Teen accused of stealing designer belt

A Vancouver teen who allegedly robbed a group of males of a designer belt made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court.

Raymond E. Mason, 17, appeared to face an allegation of first-degree robbery stemming from the Aug. 12 incident in Hazel Dell.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded at about 5:15 p.m. to a reported robbery involving multiple firearms at a residence in the 6300 block of Northeast Hazel Dell Avenue, according to a probable cause affidavit.

A witness at the residence, Kobe Hammick, said two males, whom he knows, came over to buy a designer belt from two 16-year-old boys. He said the suspects, one of whom was identified as Mason, pulled out what appeared to be a black revolver and pointed it at one of the teens’ chests. Mason reportedly told the teens to strip down and give them the belt and a cellphone, the affidavit said. Hammick said he wasn’t instructed to do anything.

Mason and the alleged accomplice then ran eastbound on Northeast 63rd Street, court records said.

One of the victims told police that Mason also had a pistol in the waistband of his pants, but he didn’t think he ever removed it. He said the other suspect pointed a gun at them, and they were ordered to turn around and put their hands on the wall, according to court documents.

Deputies contacted Mason at his home Wednesday and served a search warrant on his residence. They reportedly found the stolen belt in his room. Mason allegedly admitted to participating in the robbery and said he did it because he needed money. He denied having a weapon, the affidavit said.

During his court appearance, he was appointed a defense attorney and bail was set at $50,000.

Mason will be arraigned Sept. 8.