News release from: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office arrests four in alleged Colton armed robbery 

Posted: 09/04/09

Suspect arrest photos:

Arrest-scene photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #09-27297

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Patrol deputies, with the assistance of the Molalla Police Department, arrested three individuals believed responsible for an overnight armed robbery that occurred in Colton.

On Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 at 10:39 p.m., Clackamas County deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred near the Colton Market, located at 20867 S. Hwy. 211 in Colton.

Responding deputies were informed by dispatchers that the victim, John Lower, had been robbed at gunpoint and was following the suspect vehicle as it was attempting to flee the area. Dispatchers broadcast the suspect vehicle description: a black Honda with Oregon license plate 304-EDS. (This vehicle was later determined to be a black 1996 Honda Accord four-door sedan, with license-plate number 304-EDS.)

At 10:48 p.m. Molalla Police first spotted this suspect vehicle traveling south on Hwy. 211, near the Meadowbrook Store. Clackamas County deputies converged with Molalla Police units, and a high-risk felony traffic stop was conducted by this team of law-enforcement personnel on Hwy. 211 near Riverview Lane.

This high-risk traffic stop resulted in all four occupants of the Honda being removed cautiously from the vehicle and secured without incident.

The reported victim, John Lower, told investigators that he and his fiancée, Jennifer Slack, had arrived at the Colton Market earlier that evening to pick up an item for a friend. Lower told deputies that as he pulled into the parking lot of the Colton Market, the suspect Honda automobile pulled in front of his vehicle -- and that two males exited the Honda and demanded he exit his vehicle. As he was exiting his vehicle, one of the two males (Caleb Wheeler) pulled out a handgun described as a six-shooter.

Lower reports that cigarettes and U.S. Currency were taken by the suspects prior to the suspects fleeing the area.

A handgun matching the description of the one allegedly used by the suspects was located during a search of the suspect Honda automobile and retained as evidence of the crime.

The following occupants of this vehicle were taken into custody and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail:

  1. Alex Paul Ketcherside, age 20, of Woodburn. Ketcherside is lodged on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit a Robbery in the First Degree. $250,000 bail.

  2. Michelle Kirstin Wells, age 18, of Portland. Wells is lodged on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit a Robbery in the First Degree. $250,000 bail.

  3. Caleb Nathan Wheeler, age 20, of Milwaukie. Wheeler is lodged on charges of Robbery in the First Degree; Unlawful Use of a Weapon; and Pointing a Firearm at Another. $272,500 bail.

  4. Zachary Charles Wellock, age 18, of Milwaukie. Wellock is lodged on a charge of Conspiracy to Commit a Robbery in the First Degree. $250,000 bail.

Photographs of all these inmates are linked above.

All four of these subjects are scheduled to appear for arraignment on this matter at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2009 in the Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City.

ADDITIONAL TIPS SOUGHT

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office urges anyone with information concerning this crime to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online e-mail form.

The public can also submit crime-tip text messages to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office from a cell phone. All users 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. Important reminder: Please do not send emergency messages using the text-messaging system -- in case of an emergency, call 911.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #09-27297

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