NE Bend credit union robbery suspect arraigned

A 28-year-old Bend man accused of holding up a northeast Bend credit union was arraigned Thursday and ordered held without bail on a probation violation, prosecutors said.

Police said Brett Gillispie Comstock used a note Wednesday morning to rob Selco Community Credit Union. He was caught less than 40 minutes later in front of a nearby bookstore, trying to use a newly bought Christmas tree to hide his face, they said.

Deputy District Attorney Brandi Shroyer said Gillispie Comstock was arraigned on the initial DA’s charging document Thursday afternoon before Deschutes County Circuit Judge Barbara Bagley. She ordered him held on $50,000 bail on the robbery and without bail on a probation violation case.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 23 on an expected indictment.

Gillispie Comstock entered the Selco Credit Union at 501 Northeast Bellevue Drive twice before 10 a.m., acting suspicious and prompting concerns among workers there, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

The second time, he passed a note to the teller and demanded money, getting an undisclosed amount of cash and running away.

Numerous police and detectives, including Oregon State Police and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, responded to the credit union and vicinity to begin searching for the suspect, using a detailed description from Selco employees.

Burleigh said they soon learned the identity of the robbery suspect, also finding several items in the area, including the clothes Gillispie Comstock allegedly removed after the holdup.

Burleigh said he had no information a weapon was involved in the robbery.

Within 40 minutes, a man matching the suspect’s description was seen walking in front of the Barnes and Noble bookstore a short distance away on Highway 20, Burleigh said.

The suspect had purchased a Christmas tree and was carrying it on his shoulder, pushed closely to his head and face in an attempt to conceal his identity, the lieutenant said. Detectives contacted the man and confirmed his identity, taking him into custody in the bookstore parking lot at 10:39 a.m.

Meanwhile, a Redmond Police dog searched the area and found a large amount of the cash taken in the holdup, near where Gillispie Comstock was taken into custody. Burleigh said all of the money taken from Selco was recovered or accounted for.

Gillispie Comstock was taken to the Deschutes County Jail and booked on charges of third-degree robbery, theft by receiving, first-degree theft and tampering with evidence. His initial bail totaled $90,000, according to jail records

Bend police offered thanks for cooperation from the community, specifically the employees at Selco Credit Union.

“Because of their quick action, a hasty response by Bend police officers and a diligent investigation, Gillispie Comstock was quickly located and charged,” Burleigh wrote. The agency also thanked Redmond police, OSP, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and FBI for their assistance.

NewsChannel 21’s Kandra Kent was on scene minutes after the holdup and will have a complete report on Fox at 4, and 5 and 6 on NBC.