Newport Police News Releases

NPD MEDIA RELEASE       011908   1200

Incident:       Robbery         Case: 08N-00114

Location:       JC Market, 107 N Coast Hwy

Date/Time:      011808 / 1908

Victim: JC Market

Suspect:        Tannacore, Christian W   Age 20

        Smith, Raymond Joseph   Age 19

Details:        On 011808, at about 7:08 PM, Newport Police officers were dispatched to a Robbery incident that had just occurred at the JC Market Store.  Information gathered at the scene indicated that two suspects had first entered the store at about 6 PM and were observed stealing a bottle of wine and other food items.  The Loss Prevention Officer employed by the store was unable to contact the suspects at that time.  One was described as a black male adult and the other as a white male adult.  Both were wearing distinctive clothing items.  At about 7 PM, the same two suspects entered the store again and attempted to steal two cases of beer.  When contacted by the Loss Prevention Officer and another employee, one of the suspects assaulted the Loss Prevention Officer and both fled the scene on foot.  One suspect, Christian Tannacore, who told officers he is a homeless person from California, was located near NE Avery and 1^st Streets by a Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff.  He was arrested by Newport Police officers for Robbery II and Theft III.  Tannacore was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail with the bail set at $52,500.  Officers and assisting deputies were unable to locate the second suspect.

     On 011908, at about 0924 hours, a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol located the second suspect, who was hitchhiking on Hwy 101 at the entrance to the South Beach State Park.  Raymond Joseph Smith of Olympia, WA was arrested by Newport Police officers, who initially provided officers with a false name.  He was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Robbery II, Theft II, Harassment and Providing False Information to a Police Officer with the bail set at $70,000.

     Newport Police were assisted in both arrests by deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and an Oregon State Police trooper. 

     Any person with additional information about this incident is requested to contact Officer Andy Ashpole of the Newport Police Department at (541) 574-3348.

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Information Released By:  Sgt Tom Simpson, (541) 574-3348