Bend man jailed in stabbing, drug-related holdup

A 22-year-old Bend man was jailed on attempted murder, assault, kidnap, robbery and drug charges in an apparently drug-related armed robbery early Saturday morning and a stabbing of another man several hours later, police said. The stabbing victim and another man are expected to face charges in the holdup, as well, officers added.

Police and Bend Fire medics were sent around 8:15 a.m. to a home in the 1900 block of Northeast Red Rock Lane for a reported stabbing, Sgt. Adam Juhnke said. Deschutes County dispatchers told responding officers the stabbing suspect, Alex Christopher Burton, 22, was still on scene and standing in the home’s front yard.

Meanwhile, others were caring for the stabbing victim, Aries Gaber, 18, also of Bend, who had at least one significant stab wound to his leg, Juhnke said.

Officers arrived on scene and learned Burton had fled inside his home, so they began efforts to rescue Gaber from the front yard, provided first aid and prepared to contact Burton, who came out of the house and was detained, the sergeant said.

Medics took Gaber to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries and he was treated and later released, Juhnke said.

Investigating officers learned Burton and Gaber are acquaintances who had arrived at Burton’s home in his car. An altercation occurred in or near the car and Gaber was stabbed at least once in the leg. Juhnke said Burton also tried to stab Gaber in the upper torso before he dragged the other man across the road and tried to force him inside his home.

Brad Masters, 24, of Bend, an acquaintance of Burton and Gaber, was present at the time of the stabbing and ran from the scene, but later was located and interviewed, Juhnke said.

Burton also was evaluated at St. Charles before being taken to the county jail and booked on charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and kidnapping, as well as two counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and menacing and single counts of first-degree robbery, criminal conspiracy, drug possession (pills without a prescription) and drug delivery (LSD), Juhnke said. He was being held on $580,000 bail, with more charges possible.

Officers also learned the three men were all involved or present during an armed robbery around 2 a.m. on the south end of Bend. Juhnke said statements by the three men and recovered evidence led them to believe it was a drug-related holdup and weapons were used, though what type of weapons has not been disclosed.

Masters was charged with methamphetamine possession, while both Masters and Gaber are expected to face charges related to the robbery, Juhnke said. The sergeant said the investigation is continuing, and more arrests and charges are expected.

Police also are asking for the public’s help in finding victims or witnesses to the robbery, which likely occurred around 2 a.m. Saturday in the area of Walmart and the New Hope Church. That incident is still being investigated, but Juhnke said it appears to be unrelated to the later stabbing and there didn’t appear to be any significant injuries.

Bend police also thanked the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for its help in responding to numerous calls for service in the city while officers were conducting their investigation.