Bend dispensary robber who police say tried to shoot worker, but gun malfunctioned charged with attempted murder

(Update: Suspect arraigned)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A gunman robbing a northeast Bend marijuana dispensary Tuesday afternoon struck an employee in the face and tried to fire two shots at her, but the handgun malfunctioned, police said. He managed to walk out the door with a bag of marijuana before other workers grabbed him and put him in a headlock until officers arrived.

Police responded around 4:40 p.m. to Top Shelf Medicine in the 800 block of Northeast Greenwood Avenue after an employee called 911 to report she’d been struck in the face and threatened with a handgun before the robber took a bag of marijuana and walked out the door, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

“The suspect attempted to fire two shots at the employee, but the handgun malfunctioned,” Miller said.

Other employees put the suspect, identified as Russell Ian Boggess, 41, of Bend, into a headlock and held him until officers arrived less than a minute later. Miller said two workers were injured while they restrained the man.

Officers used a WRAP device to restrain Boggess, who was taken first to the nearby Bend Police headquarters, then to St. Charles Bend.

Once released from the hospital, Boggess was booked into the jail late Tuesday night and arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a dozen initial charges. They include attempted murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, second-degree attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of fourth-degree assault, interfering with making a report and menacing.

Six of the alleged crimes are Class A, B and C felonies, while the charges of assault, menacing and interference with making a report are Class A misdemeanors.

Boggess is due to return to court in a week for arraignment on an expected formal indictment. Oregon court records show no previous criminal charges involving Boggess.