March 26, 2008

Robber preys on parkers

     The Dalles police are encouraging the public to avoid lonely viewpoints and rest areas after dark, after an apparent armed robbery and kidnapping at Kelly Viewpoint was added to a string of such incidents in the Columbia Gorge.
     “This is, we believe, the same guy that has done this up and down the gorge five other times,” said Capt. Ed Goodman of the city police, citing Hood River and Corbett as other locations.
     The abduction happened about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 22 and involved two victims.
     “They were abducted from that location and drove some distance east of here, where the suspect asked to be let off,” said Goodman, who declined to say where the suspect was dropped.
     He allegedly robbed the victims of their possessions, but left them their car.
     The suspect wears a mask, and is believed to be a Hispanic male in his 20s, around 5 feet, 9 inches or 10 inches tall.