Crime Stoppers success: Tips lead to Redmond robber’s surrender

Just one day after a shotgun-wielding robber held up a downtown Redmond convenience store, a 22-year-old Redmond man surrendered to jail officials and was arrested on robbery and other charges, thanks to tips to NewsChannel 21’s Crime Stoppers program, police said Monday night.

Lt. Jesse Peterson said Redmond police detectives received information from concerned community members utilizing Crime Stoppers that Mitchell Yates was a person of interest in the late Sunday afternoon robbery of Moe’s Food Mart on southwest Fifth Street, at the Shell gas station.

Peterson on Wednesday confirmed that Yates had learned police were looking for him and contacted Deschutes County Jail deputies shortly before 7 p.m. Monday to turn himself in.

Yates was arrested on charges of first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, coercion, menacing, second-degree theft and interfering with making a 911 report, Peterson said, adding that Yates was “cooperative:” with police. Initial bail was set at $135,000.

A vehicle of interest, described as a older red pickup with dual exhaust, has been located and a shotgun has been recovered, Peterson said.

At least one person will receive a reward through the program, a partnership of NewsChannel 21 and East Cascade security, as a result of the tips and arrest, Peterson said. He also offered thanks to the community, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police for their assistance in the case.

Police had released a security-camera photo of the masked, shotgun-wielding robber who managed to elude numerous police who swarmed the area.

Officers learned the masked gunman had brandished a shotgun at an employee, was given an undisclosed amount of money and ran, Peterson said. Police converged and searched nearby streets, also bringing in a county K-9 unit, to no avail.

You can also call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-TIPS or use the form on KTVZ.COM’s Crime Stoppers page. You can remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

Peterson said Redmond police want to thank the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department and Oregon State Police for their assistance in the case.