Portland Police Nab Suspect in 7 Eastside Armed Robberies

Portland Police Bureau detectives arrested Justin P. Christiansen, 49, of Portland, on September 7, 2025, following a months-long investigation into seven armed robberies that rattled Southeast Portland's eastside neighborhoods.[4] The crime spree began June 23, 2025, at a coffee shop in the 4000 block of Southeast 26th Avenue and escalated through fast food restaurants, a discount store, a gas station and a dispensary, with the final holdup on September 4 at a business in the 4000 block of Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.[4] Victims faced a gun-wielding robber who struck along key corridors like Southeast Powell Boulevard, terrorizing working-class areas from the 3000 to 6000 blocks.[4] Officers spotted a suspect vehicle late on September 7 and, with help from the Air Support Unit, conducted a high-risk traffic stop that led to Christiansen's custody without incident.[4] He was booked into Multnomah County Detention Center on six counts of first-degree robbery and six counts of second-degree robbery, charges stemming from the targeted businesses popular among eastside commuters and residents.[4] Search warrants on his car and home uncovered what appeared to be an explosive device, later confirmed as a hoax by the Portland Police Bureau’s Explosive Disposal Unit; the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing potential additional charges.[4] The arrests come amid heightened concerns over violent crime in Portland's eastside, where convenience stores and eateries have been frequent targets amid staffing shortages at the Portland Police Bureau.[4] Earlier incidents, like a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office probe into an armed robbery at a TriMet bus stop in the 4500 block of Southeast 122nd Avenue, underscore persistent threats in transit-heavy zones.[1] Detectives urge tips via [email protected] as the Major Crimes Unit continues its work.[4]