News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Deputies respond to reported OxyContin-motivated armed robbery

Posted: Feb. 6, 2010, 3:48 p.m.

Surveillance video-- Windows Media (.wmv) format

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #10-4128

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a reported armed robbery motivated by desire to obtain OxyContin.

At 1:09 p.m. on Feb. 5, a lone woman (pictured above) went into the Walgreen's Pharmacy at 9159 SE 82nd Ave. in unincorporated Clackamas County, south of the City of Portland. The female reportedly told the pharmacist she had a gun and would shoot if she did not receive OxyContin.

The woman then fled on foot in an unknown direction from the Walgreen's, and no vehicle was witnessed leaving the area.

OxyContin is Purdue Pharma's brand for time-release single-ingredient oxycodone oral medication. Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic medication synthesized from opium-derived thebaine. OxyContin is designed to provide a sustained analgesic property (reducing the effects of intense pain). OxyContin is highly addictive; most abusers of the drug crush the tablets in a effort to defeat the time-release function.

The female suspect is described as follows:

• White woman
• 5'11" to 6' tall
• Having a darker complexion, with bruising and or discoloration on the left side of her face. (This bruising is consistent with a person who is addicted to Opiate drugs like OxyContin.)
• Wearing a gray "hoody" sweatshirt pulled down over her hands

A person suffering from an addiction will do just about anything to get the drug he or she craves, and as such should be considered potentially dangerous.

This woman claims to be armed, and caution should be used when she is located or spotted by citizens.

The robbery was captured on video, and that video will be given to the press when it is available. The investigation is ongoing, and will followed up on by Clackamas County robbery detectives.

TIPS SOUGHT

Anyone with information on this robbery is urged to contract the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Tip Line -- by calling 503-723-4949 or by using the online e-mail form.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #10-4128.

You can also submit a crime-tip text message 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 #10-4128.

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Contact Info: Acting Public Information Officer
Lt. Paul Steigleder
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office