Portland Police Nab Suspect in Eastside Convenience Store Robbery Spree

Portland Police Bureau's East Precinct officers arrested Harold J. Carter, 18, of Vancouver, Washington, on December 18, 2025, after he robbed a smoke shop at gunpoint in the 14600 block of Southeast Stark Street at 1:45 p.m.. Described as part of a **series of armed robberies** targeting East Portland convenience stores and shops, the incident escalated when officers spotted Carter's vehicle near Southeast 146th Avenue and Southeast Main Street just 45 minutes later. A pursuit ended with a tactical vehicle intervention at Northeast 111th Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard, where police seized a handgun and booked Carter into Multnomah County Detention Center on charges including first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, attempt to elude, reckless driving and reckless endangering another person.

The arrest fits a pattern of violent crimes plaguing outer East Portland neighborhoods like Powellhurst-Gilbert and Centennial, where East Precinct officers recently solved **six crimes in one hour** with a single takedown amid a string of armed robberies. Earlier incidents include back-to-back robberies in the Centennial area on November 12, 2024, and a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office probe into a gunpoint theft at a TriMet bus stop in the 4500 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue. No injuries were reported in the Stark Street robbery, but the wave has heightened concerns in these working-class communities reliant on corner stores.

Portland Police Major Crimes Unit detectives assisted, urging tips via [email protected] referencing case 25-345918. While a separate February 2026 arrest addressed school break-ins at Grace Lutheran in Southeast Portland, the convenience store spree underscores ongoing challenges for Eastside patrols. Carter's passenger was released without charges, as investigations continue into potential additional links.