Knife Wielding Bicycle Rider Towing Trailer Arrested in Keizer

Police say the theft of a rototiller turned into a menacing and armed robbery case.

Joseph Cutter's bail was set at $50,000 Photo: Keizer Police

(KEIZER) - Keizer Police Officers responded to the True Value Hardware store on River Road N Thursday afternoon just before 4:00 PM on a reported theft of a Rototiller. Employees told the police that it had just occurred, and that a citizen was chasing the suspect who had loaded the stolen tiller on a bicycle trailer and was pulling it away. The thief with the rototiller was chased into the parking lot of Safeway located in the 4900 block of River Road N where he was caught by the citizen. That's when a fight ensued as the citizen attempted to detain the suspect.

During the physical altercation, the suspect was reported to have pulled out a knife. When he threatened the citizen with it, the citizen allowed the suspect to get back on his bicycle and ride away, and continued to watch the suspect ride off. He then provided this information to responding officers. Shortly after, officers set up a perimeter and called out a Keizer Police K-9 dog named Czar. A dog track was started and officers found the bicycle trailer hidden under a blanket on the side of a residence. The dog track continued and lead to a residence at 4950 6th ST NE.

Officers made contact at the residence and the suspect was identified and arrested. The bicycle was also located inside the residence. The stolen Rototiller was returned to the True Value Hardware Store and the suspect was transported to Marion County Corrections Facility and charged with Robbery in the first degree, Menacing and second-degree Theft.

His bail was set at $50,000.