Robber tried twice to shoot NE Bend marijuana dispensary worker, but gun malfunctioned, police say; co-workers caught him

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 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 the suspect, who was taken first to the nearby Bend Police headquarters, then to St. Charles Bend.

Once released from the hospital, Miller said he will be booked into the Deschutes County jail on charges of attempted murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault, harassment, three counts of menacing, interference with a 911 call and felon in possession of a firearm.

NewsChannel 21's policy is not to name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.