Two arrested in Redmond cellphone store holdup

(Update: Suspects’ mugshots, jail charges details)

An armed robbery of a southwest Redmond cellphone store late Saturday afternoon led to the quick arrests of two 23-year-old Redmond men and the recovery by a police K-9 team of cash, electronics and a handgun used in the crime, police said. They credited numerous witnesses and citizen tips with playing a key role in the case.

Workers at the U.S. Cellular store at 1380 Southwest Canal Boulevard called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers around 5:10 p.m. to report the holdup, saying a white male adult entered with a handgun and demanded money and an iPhone, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

Money and electronic devices were given to the man, who left and ran toward the nearby Fred Meyer, Chambers said, adding that no one was injured in the store.

Officers soon learned the suspect had gotten into a car, and the man, Mitchell Hunsaker, was found in the area of Southwest Rimrock Way and 21st Street and arrested after a short chase on foot, the lieutenant said.

Hunsaker did not have the items taken in the holdup on him when arrested and had changed his clothes, Chambers said.

Redmond Officer Josh Powers and his K-9 partner Maverick searched the area and found the stolen money, clothing worn during the robbery, a backpack with stolen items and the handgun believed to have been used in the holdup.

Witnesses told police the robbery apparently was a passenger in a vehicle and had been dropped off, Chambers said. More tips and citizen information helped police identify and locate the vehicle used in the robbery.

The alleged getaway driver, Dustin Hilsendager, was arrested without incident at his workplace, Chambers said. Evidence of the robbery was found in the vehicle as well, he said.

Hunsaker was arrested on numerous charges, including first-degree robbery and kidnapping, coercion, felon in possession of a firearm, first-degree theft, menacing, tampering with evidence, interfering with a peace officer, second-degree criminal trespass, second-degree burglary and unlawful use of a weapon, Chambers said.

Initial charges against Hilsendager included first-degree robbery, first-degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree burglary.

Redmond police Lt. Hank Majetich said, “The quick resolution to this violent crime was made possible by the employees of U.S. Cellular and the numerous citizen witnesses who provided information to law enforcement in a timely manner.”

Jail records Sunday showed Hunsaker held on three counts each of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, coercion, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of tampering with evidence, one count of felon in possession of a weapon, first-degree theft and second-degree burglary. His bail totaled $731,000. Hilsendager was held on the charges as police initially listed, with bail at $130,000.