Two Suspects Arrested for Corvallis Armed Robberies

Two Springfield men, both suspects in Corvallis armed robberies, are in custody.

(CORVALLIS, Ore.) - Police say last November 2nd, at 10:17 a.m., Corvallis officers responded to a panic alarm from DeDe's All Lottery Games at 1786 NW 9th Street.

"Upon arrival, officers learned a suspect entered the business with a handgun and demanded money. The employee complied with his demands and provided him with an undisclosed amount of money from several of the video poker machines and cash registers," Lt. Tim Brewer with Corvallis Police said, adding that no one was injured during the incident.

He says on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at about 3:40 p.m., Corvallis Police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at AJ's Dawg Haus located at 1420 NW 9th Street.

"In this incident, a suspect entered the business with a small black handgun and demanded money from the only employee present. The employee complied with his demands and provided him with an undisclosed amount of money from several of the video poker machines and cash register."

Brewer says Corvallis Police and Benton County Sheriff detectives from the Street Crime Unit began investigating the cases and identified possible suspects.

"Christopher Stechelin was identified as a suspect through DNA analysis of an item he left at one of the robberies." Stechelin is 39.

Brewer says Stechelin was arrested in Springfield, Oregon on January 24, 2009, on outstanding warrants and was charged by SCU Detectives for his part in the Corvallis robberies.

45-year old Ricardo Ferrari, who was reportedly armed with a handgun during both robberies, was also identified as a suspect during the investigation.

"He was arrested in San Jose, California, on March 29, 2009, on a Benton County Circuit Court warrant charging him with robbing the two Corvallis businesses. During one of the robberies, the suspects used a vehicle which had been reported stolen from Lane County," Brewer said.

Christopher A. Stechelin, a Springfield, Oregon Resident, faces two counts of first-degree Robbery, first-degree Aggravated Theft, first-degree Theft and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.

Ricardo Ferrari, also a Springfield, Oregon Resident, faces the same charges; two counts of first-degree Robbery, first-degree Aggravated Theft, first-degree Theft and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle.

Brewer says Stechelin is currently lodged at the Benton County Correctional Facility and Ferrari is in the custody of the Santa Cruz County California Jail.