News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office seeks public's help to identify home-invasion robbers
Posted: June 3, 2009, 4:01 p.m.
Suspect sketches:
CCSO CASE # 09-17059
On June 3, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Patrol deputies responded to a reported home-invasion armed robbery at the address of 14801 SE Natalya St. in Happy Valley.
The robbery victim is identified as Julie Anne Ackerman, age 38; she resides at this Natalya Street residence.
Investigating Patrol deputies determined the female occupant victim had not been physically harmed during this robbery. However, she was held with a knife to her throat as the two robbers searched her home for valuables. Investigators also discovered the victim was babysitting an infant at the time of the robbery; the infant was also not physically harmed by the intruders.
Sheriff's Office detectives responded to this home-invasion robbery to assist with interviews, neighborhood canvassing and crime-scene processing.
In addition, forensic sketches of the suspects have been created -- and hopefully will capture the attention of the public, who may be able to provide investigators with suspect information. (These sketches are linked above.)
The victim told deputies she responded to a knock at her door, and was asked by the two males standing at her door if they could come inside to use the phone to summon assistance for someone who was injured. This victim responded by telling the duo she would bring the phone to the door. Upon hearing that, the two males immediately forced their way through the door and held a knife to the victim's throat. One of the two suspects ransacked this residence in search of valuables, while the other suspect held the terrified victim at knifepoint.
The suspects who remained inside the residence an estimated 10-minutes searching ultimately located and stole currency, credit cards, jewelry and two-handguns prior to departing. These stolen items were carried from the scene in a plastic shopping bag obtained by the suspects at the scene.
The Sheriff's Office reports that at least two male subjects were previously reported by neighbors in this area soliciting money. This money-solicitation ruse is reportedly presented by a male subject who speaks with a distinct Russian or Romanian accent. This subject had been reportedly pleading to residents in the area he needed money for a relative -- either for his daughter or a friend's daughter -- who was ill and in need of money for insurance. Deputies believe the same person soliciting for cash earlier in this neighborhood had approached the same residence involved in today's home-invasion robbery last week; in fact, deputies believe this suspect had actually approached today's robbery victim with the funds solicitation.
The two suspects are described as:
SUSPECT # 1:
• White male
• 30-35 years-old
• 5'10" tall
• Short light brown hair -- described as short, but spiky
• Very light and bright eyes
• Slight gap in his upper front teeth
• Muscular and clean-cut in appearance
• Distinct Russian or Romanian accent
• Wearing a blue button-style shirt and blue jeans
• Came to this residence armed with a knife
SUSPECT # 2:
• White, male,
• 30-35 years-old
• 5'08" tall
• Short dirty-blond hair
• Thin build
• Clean-cut in appearance
• Wearing white polo-style shirt with green horizontal stripes, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
• Strong Russian or Romanian accent
The knife used by the suspects was described to have a curved blade and black handle.
Both suspects were talking fluently in a foreign language in discussion with each other during the course of this armed robbery.
No suspect vehicle information is available at this time.
TIPS SOUGHT FROM PUBLIC
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office urges anyone with information concerning this crime to the contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or using the online e-mail form. Please reference CCSO Case # 09-17059.
The public can also submit tips via anonymous cell-phone text message. To submit a crime tip to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office from a cell phone, all you have to do is send a text message to CRIMES (274637 on your phone keypad) -- with the keyword CCSO as the first word in the message body. FOR EXAMPLE: A tipster could send the following tip to CRIMES (274637 on your phone keypad): "CCSO John Doe has information about a crime." For detailed information on this service, click here.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Please do not send emergency messages using the text-messaging system. To report a crime in progress, call 911. (It's also important to note that citizens need to verbally call 911 -- because 911 centers in Oregon are NOT able to receive text messages.)
Please reference CCSO Case # 09-17059.
[END]
Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office