BREAKING: Homeowner Repels Armed Robber from Portland House

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Kirsten Nicolaisen, GoLocalPDX Digital Producer

A homeowner in North Portland chased an armed robbery suspect out of his home with a kitchen knife early Wednesday morning, according to Portland police.

Police responded to a call of an armed intruder at the 5500 block of North Wilbur Ave, at 2:52 AM. Officers arrived and contacted the victim who told police that he was in the basement of his home when he heard footsteps on the main floor of the house, according to police.

The homeowner went up stairs and encountered a man wearing a ski mask armed with a handgun. He grabbed a kitchen knife and chased the suspect from the house. Once outside the suspect dropped the handgun, grabbed a metal hand truck and held it over his head as if he was going to throw it at the victim, but he dropped it and fled the area on foot, according to police.

Police said the homeowner retrieved the gun, which turned out to be a realistic-looking Airsoft pistol.

The suspect was described a man in his mid-20s to early-30s, 5 foot 10 inches tall with a heavy build.

Portland police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact the robbery detail at (503) 823-0405.