Armed Robbery Suspects Arrested in Albany

The investigation into this robbery and four other recent armed robberies is on-going. Anyone with any information regarding this robbery or any other robbery is asked to contact the Albany Police Department Detective section at 541-917-7686.

Armed Robbery suspects Mark Tidwell and Tracy Long Photo: Albany Police

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Albany Police have now arrested both suspects in an armed robbery incident that happened April 30th at 10:20 PM at the Front Street Inn, located at 2300 NE Front Avenue.

Albany Police Captain Eric Carter says the bartender at the Front Street Inn described a woman that came into the bar that night and played video poker for a few minutes before left.

"A few moments later an adult male wearing a mask and armed with a semi-automatic handgun came into the bar and demanded money from the lottery till."

Carter says the suspect held the bartender and a lone patron at gunpoint and threatened to shoot the bartender if he was not given the money. The suspect fled the bar with money and was followed by the patron who watched him get into a 1989 Cadillac and drive off. A responding Albany Police Officer found the suspect vehicle leaving the area. Carter says the suspect stopped his vehicle in the area of Burkhart Street and Front Avenue and fled on foot. "A perimeter was set up; however, the suspect was not found during a search of the neighborhood." A single passenger from the suspect vehicle was detained by police after the driver fled on foot. The passenger was identified as 42-year-old Albany resident Tracy Lee Long.

Tracy Long was later arrested when she was identified as the woman who entered the bar moments before the armed robbery. Tracy Long was lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges of First-Degree Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in the First Degree. On Tuesday afternoon, investigators identified 44-year-old Albany resident Mark Bret Tidwell as the gunman from the robbery. Then on Wednesday, search warrants were executed at two units of the Rosewood apartments in the 700 block of SE 19th Avenue where Mark Tidwell was known to frequent.

Investigators say a suspected waste by-product from the manufacture of methamphetamine was discovered in one of the apartments. The officers then moved quickly when they pinpointed the place they thought they would locate Tidwell. Carter says Albany officers surrounded a residence Wednesday afternoon in the 1700 block of SE Thurston Street during a continued search for Mark Tidwell.

"After confirming that Mark Tidwell was inside, residences in the 1700 block of SE Thurston Street and SE Jefferson Street were evacuated. Sunrise Elementary School, located at 730 SE 19th Avenue and in sight of the residence officers had surrounded, was locked down." After about one hour of negotiations by phone, Mark Tidwell came out of the residence and was taken into custody. He was transported to Albany General Hospital by ambulance for treatment of an ankle injury he sustained when he fled from police on foot after the armed robbery.

Mark Tidwell was lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges of First-Degree Robbery, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

He also had a Douglas County warrant charging Failure To Appear for a drug charge. He also had a State Parole and Probation warrant. During a search of the Thurston Street residence a handgun believed to have been used by Mark Tidwell during the robbery was located as well a methamphetamine. Additional charges are anticipated on Mark Tidwell. The investigation into this robbery and four other recent armed robberies is on-going. Anyone with any information regarding this robbery or any other robbery is asked to contact the Albany Police Department Detective section at 541-917-7686.