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Page 4..The Portland Observer...December 16, 1902
Public Assistance Sought In
Robbery Investigations
Portland Police Detectives are
seeking the public's assistance involv
ing an investigation ot at least lour
robberies, believed to have been com
mitted by the sante suspects. The rob
beries occurred between September 28,
1992 and December 8, 1992 and have
taken place it Northeast Portland Busi
nesses.
According to Detectives, there have
been two to five suspects involved in
the commercial robberies.. Usually the
suspects enter the store, armed with
guns and pose as customers while one
suspect stands outside acting as a look
out. Once customers leave the store, the
suspects display their weapons and
threaten the clerk or store owner. I he
suspects then rob the store usually tak
ing cash, wallets and other valuables.
The suspects have become violent in
the robberies and are considered armed
and dangerous.
Following is a list of the robberies
believed committed by these suspects:
1) September 28,1992/10:26 a.in.
/ 2909 NE Prescott Street I Food King
Market. On this date two suspects en
tered the store armed with guns.Thc
suspects demanded the victim to open
the cash register. While attempting to
comply with the suspects demands, the
victim was shot in the stomach.
2) October 6, 1992 I 11:28 a.m. I
6728 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
I King Swap Meet Reportedly, five
suspects entered the store and acted as
though they were shopping. One of the
suspects asked to view an item in a
display case. As the clerk began to open
the case the suspects threatened the clerk
and a security guard with guns. The
supects stole jewelry, cash and a re
volver and left the clerk and security
guard handculted in a backroom.
3) December 7, 1992 / 4:25 p.m. I
3000NEKillingsworthSt/Magic Video.
Four suspects entered the store and
waited until customers left the store.
The suspects threaten the clerk with
guns and demanded cash from the regis
ter. The clerk was ordered to lay down
on the floor, while one of the suspects
repeatedly threaten to shoot the victim.
The suspects left the store taking cash,
jewelry and the victim s wallet.
4) December 8, 1992 / 6:10 p.m. /
2940 NE Alberta Street / B & R Shoes.
At least four suspects enter the store,
while one suspect stands our front acting
as a lookout. Two employees are work
ing at the time. The suspects split up and
appeared to be shopping when one of the
suspects knocks one of the clerks to the
floor and pointed a gun at the clerk s
head. The suspects lake the wallet be
longing to die second clerk, and begin to
threaten the first clerk who suddenly
bolts from the suspects’ grasp and es
capes from the Store. The suspects then
fled on foot.
The suspects’ are described as Black
males; #1 is described as 20 years, 5’4
to 5’6" tall, 120 pounds, clean shaven
and having a dark complexion; #2 is
described as 23-24 years, 6 0 tall, and
180 pounds. #3 is described as 18-19
years, 5’6" tall, stocky build weighing
between 210 and 250 pounds. The other
suspects are described as appearing simi
lar to the first three.
During any robbery it is suggested
that citizens; !) Remain calm. The
calmer you are the less chance there is
of a robber becoming excited or escalat
ing the situation; 2) Do not argue, fight,
surprise or attempt to use weapons
against a robbcr(s). Provocation on the
part of a victim could make the situation
worse. 3)Carefully watch the suspccl(s)
so that you can provide officers with
this important information later.
After the robbery; ljLockalldoors
an allow no one inside. Ask witnesses to
remain on the premises until officers
arrive. Do not touch anything that the
robber(s) may have touched. 2) Do not
discuss what happened with other wit
nesses. Your own impressions should
be kept untainted until you have talked
with officers. 3) Call 911 immediately.
Acting quickly may assist officers re
sponding to the scene in apprehending
the suspect(s).
Detectives as anyone with infor
mation regarding these robberies to call
C rim esto p p ers at 823-H E L P
(4357).
Career Opportunity
The Portland Police Bureau is looking for dedicated men and women who are
interested in serving the community as a police otficer.
take a positive change in your community - and want a challenging
If you want to ma
.
and fulfilling career with excellent salary and benefits - the Portland Police Bureau can
offer you that opportunity.
$29,931 -$42,681
Medical and Dental Benefits
Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
Portland Police Bureau Human Goals:
“To attract a diverse group of individuals with ability, dedication and capacity tor
“ Most people say they play and
sing. We play, sing, write and produce.
The four of us together can do every
thing from A-Z. We’re one big unit.
There arc no big I’s and little u’s.”
As four, they are'AZ-1.
They are Martin Kember, Jeff Gill
(no relation to Johnny), Shawn “Shon-
Shon” Harris, and Andre “L.A. Drc”
Bolton.
Az-1 is an impressive debut filled
with soothing ballads, mid tempo
grooves and funky up tempo dance
tracks. Magnums “ M issing You,
“When I’m With You” and “Let My
Love Inside” are prime examples of
A Z -l’s sincere song writing, rare mu-
sicality and amazing vocal range and
harmony.
“Trust In Me,” and “Why You
Want To Play Me Out,” show the
lighter, funkier side of AZ-1 that is just
as sincere and authentic as the ballads.
The gorgeously re-interpreted cover of
DeBarge’s “1 Like It” brings a classic
back to life with AZ-1 ’s own stunning
vocal arrangement and re-vitalized in
strumentation.
AZ-1 they arc harmony, but to
understand the whole, you must know
tire parts.
As one, he is Martin Kember, vo
calist and ex Soul Train dancer. Bom
in London, England, his family moved
to the United States when his opera
singing mother had a “gig at Carnegie
Hall. When the family arrived in
America, they liked it so much, they
decided to stay. They chose Simi Val
ley, California, as home. (Yes, that
Simi Valley.)
Martin and his sisters used to do
“impersonations of famous acts” on
paddle steamers and in night clubs. As
his sisters got older, they lost interest in
music. Martinstarted listening to R&B.
When the Kember Family arrived
in Simi Valley, Martin suffered severe
culture shock: “There were no black
people, much less black music. I was a
real oddball at school,” says Martin.
His deep soulful vocals, reminis
cent of Stevie Wonder and Babyface,
may surprise you, but he says of his
vocal ability and style, “ 1 just turned
out that way. I accept who I am, 1 have
to be true to myself.” Martin s natural
affinity for R&B styling comes simply
from the fact that “It’s what I’ve al
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ways loved and felt.’
As one, he is Jeff Gill, self-pro
claimed, “addict of music and elec
tronic gizmos,” and mobile DJ and
A ssistan t Program D irecto r on
s
«
T
he asked his mother to buy him an
growth” and “To make the Police Bureau a model of equal opportunity for all.’
instrument, she said no because she had
already bought so many for his older
brothers that they never touched. She
Local Calls: 796-3200
told him, “There’s aclarinet in the closet
Inside Oregon: 1-800-262-9529 (toll free)
that you can play.”
“ So I played the clarinet,” he re
Outside Oregon: 1-800-248-9529 (toll free)
calls. He then moved to bass clarinet and
a hand-me-down acoustic guitar that
Portland Police Bureau
was missing two strings. He taught him
Personnel Division
self to play and when his mother saw that
Califomias Urban contemporary sta
he was serious about play ing, she bought
Room 1542
tion KJLH.
him a bass guitar for Christmas. She
Another culture shock victim,
1111 SW 2nd Avenue
went on to buy him a drum set and
Jeff’s family moved from an all-black
Portland, Oregon 97204
another guitar and “ in 8th grade my band
“LA inner City” to an all-white suburb
and I were playing B.B. King,” he says.
in California called Thousand Oaks.
Playing in bands throughout high
He, too, was an oddball, but because he
school, Andre went on to play guitar for
is black..
the Compton College marching band.
As a fifteen year old mobile DJ, he
With all this musical experience
played local parties, school dances and
behind
him, L.A. Dre (so named to
house parties, specializing in R&B.
differentiate
from NW A’s Dr. Dre)
one year out of high school he got a rare
hooked
up
with
friends Eazy-E and Dr.
opportunity to fill in when an emer
was shot. T hom pson was fatally
Dre
and
started
m
ix ing and doing rem ixes
was later pronounced dead at 2:26 a.m.
gency opening came up at the radio
On Monday, December 14,1992 at
wounded but no one else was injured.
for their artist Michell’e. He went on to
Reportedly, Thompson, who is
station. He filled the post so well that
1:45 a.m. North Precinct Uniform Of
The 1986 Buick sustained damage to
co-write, produce and perlorm on tracks
listed as a gang affiliate, and several
he eventually became a full time staff
ficers were summoned to the 4600 block
the passenger side where bullets pen
by NW A, Above The Law.Tarrie B. and
other persons had justleftarcsidence in
person.
of N. Commercial Avenue regarding a
etrated the door panel and shattered a
the 4600 block of N Commercial Av
D.O.C.
His fascination for electronics, ra
shooting
incident.
Enroute
to
the
scene,
window.
How did heend up in an R&B group
enue and were walking across the street
diocareer, DJ’ing and interest in mak
officers were advised that a shooting
No arrests have been made and
with
ahard-to-the-core
rap
background?
to a parked vehicle. As they approached
ing music led him to keyboards. I first
victim,
later
identified
as,
JeffrcyTyrone
investigators
are currently interview
“R&B is more musical. I’m more of a
their parked white/red 1986Buick Cen
got into keyboards because I was fasci
Thompson DOB 5-9-74, had been trans
ing
witnesses.
The incident is being
musical person. I like to hear instrumen
tury, a car containing several subjects
nated by electronics and 1 wanted to
ported to Emanuel Hospital via friends.
investigated
as
possibly gang related.
tation. I like organs, I like to hear mu
drove by and shot at Thompson and his
learn music. I was also fascinated by
Thompson was found to be suffering
The investigation is continuing.
friends began to run when Thompson
sic."
seeing how records were put together.
from a gunshot wound to the chest and
How
did
they
all
get
together
AZ-1
?
Before then, I knew how to play records
Shawn and Martin met on the quad of
and scratch them, but I always won
their high school in Simi Valley when
dered what instruments actually cre
Shawn heard Martin playing a mixed
ated music.”
tape of R&B music. He asked where he
As One, he is Shawn “Shon- Shon”
got that tape and Martin told him he had
Harris, “resident rapper,” vocalist and
made it. Shawn didn’t believe him and
ex-freelance DJ. “Every little black
made him prove his mixing abilities
kid in America grew up wanting to be
after school in his house. The two started
an entertainer,” he says. So did he.
DJ’ing together.
He started out in Brooklyn, and
Across town, Jeff was the rival DJ,
attended automotive school. One day,
doing
all the parties that Shawn and
he was approached by a guy who tried
Martindidn’tdo. Eventually, they ended
percentage of public contracts for mi
C om m issioner G retchen Kafoury,
BY CATHY KIYOMURA
to stick him up for his jacket. Shawn
up working a party together and decided Article taken from the Oregonian
nority contractors.
whose office launched the investiga
told the authorities and his attacker
December 9, 1992 issue.
to join forces.
After the court decision, minority
tion. We haven’t done enough in this
was sent to juvenile hall. (He was too
L.A.
Drc
met
them
in
a
studio
ses
participation in Portland fell to 2.35
area.”
young for jail.) When he was taken
Minority workers are substantially
sion once, when someone recommended under-used by contractors who do busi
percentin 1990and5.6percentin 1991
Kafoury’s office - assisted by
away, he swore he would kill Sean if he
he work with them on a track. He did, but
afterhitting lOpercentin 1989,accord-
Wessel, the Portland Development
ness with the city of Portland, accord
ever saw him again.
they fell out of touch. A year later, when ing to a preliminary report released
ing to Carlton Chayer, the city’s pur
Commission, the city’s Contracting
Shaw n’s m other im mediately
looking for an apartment for Jeff, there Tuesday to the Portland City Council.
chasing agent.
Equity Committee, Harold Williams of
packed him up and moved him to Simi
was L.A. Drc moving into that same
Valley,California to be with his father.
In April 1990, the City Council
CH2 A & Associates and others - began
The rcportalsofound there is “con
building.
adopted a “first source” hiring program
investigating the city’s First Source
(Yes, that Simi Valley). “She wanted
siderable disparity between the number
Coincidence? Fate?
Employment Program during the year.
to steer more public works contracts to
me away from the inner city.”
of available and qualified minority
Meant to be...
residents of low-income areas in inner -
Wessel found that of a total work
workers” and their employment by con
So he went, and there he was an
AZ-1
is
a
combination
of
voices,
North and Northeast Portland. Under
force of 1,517, only 14 blacks, or 0 .9 2
oddball. “It was completely diflerent
tractors.
influences,
styles
and
experiences.
I l is
the program, the city recruits and refers
percent, had won jobs. Additionally,65
from what I was used to. They bothered
The finding, drafted by Deputy
a
unified
force
of
voice,
soul
and
Hispanics, or 4.3 percent, were em
workers to contractors on city jobs. The
City Attorney Madelyn Wessel, were
me for the way that I spoke, i was a
emotion.The album AZ-1 is prool of given to city officials investigating
arrangement sets a non-binding goal of
ployed through the contracts, along with
spectacle. It was really hard in Simi
what happens when four hearts that love charges that blacks arc not involved in
14
American
Indians,
or
0.92
percent.
hiring 16 percent minorities.,
Valley,” he says.
music
more
than
anything,
find
each
While there is no legal authority to
The
report
showed
that
no
Asian
Ameri
Music was, and still is, his only
city construction contracts.
other
in
a
mixed-up
world
where
the
enforce
the goal, minority participation
cans were employed, while 1,424 of
escape. “Music takes me someplace
The charges were raised several
color
of
their
skin
and
the
location
of
in
public
works projects, recently had
those
employed,
or
94
percent,
were
months ago by membersof the National
that nothing else can lake me.
their
homes
was
supposed
to
keep
them
risen
to
6.3
percent.
Caucasians.
association of Minority Contractors of
As One, he is Andre L.A. Drc
apart
and
couldn’t.
“These
preliminary
results
indi
Kafoury
said the council was con
Bolton,ex-soundman and musician lor
Oregon. The lengthy draft report backed
AZ-1
is
a
gift
of
smooth,
sexy
bal
cate
a
substantial
underutilizalon
of
sidering
a
multi-jurisdiction
study to
the group’s claim that the city has low
NW A and burgeoning producer.
lads
and
sincerely
written
love
songs,
document
whether
there
had
been a
minorities
by
contractors
doing
busi
minority participation in city construc
Andre Bolton grew up in Compton,
intercut
with
a
slammin’
up
tempo
num
pattern
of
discrimination
in
the
con
ness
with
the
city
of
Portland,”
Wessel
(yes, that Compton). As an asthmatic
tion contracts.
ber
or
two.
It
is
a
blend
of
lour
musical
struction
industry
in
the
Portland
met
said,
“As
a
legal
matter,
however,
these
“It’s pathetic,” said James Posey, a
child, he had to find an alternative to
and
personal
perspectives
that
once
ropolitan
area.
numbers speak for themselves and can
spokesman for the association.
sports. He decided to be in a band with
joined, come together beautifully A Z-1.
If such a pattern is found, local
be the basis for corrective city actions,”
“It’s a horrible depiction of a city
some kids in the ncighborhtxxl. When
governments
could set goals for minor
she added.
that bills itself as a progressive, inte
ity
participation
and establish new ordi
City officials have been locked in
grated city."
nances
in
a
way
that
would comply with
a frustrating struggle to boos minority
Council members said that they
the
Supreme
Court’s
ruling.
participation in city-funded projects.
were disappointed with the findings but
Posey
of
the
National
Association
Minority business part ic ipat ion has
added that they were anxious to take
of
Minority
Contractors
of
Oregon
said
declined in the last two years after a
steps to respond to the report.
the
group
would
“dog
council
to
make
U.S. Supreme Court decision that nul
“We need to be more creative to
sure something is done.”
lified many programs to set aside a
increase minority participation,” said
Homicide Investigation
4600 Block Of N. Commercial Avenue
Report Portland’s Contractors
Hire Few Minorities
The City Council investigates the charge that blacks
aren’t involved in city construction contracts
The Portland Observer encourages our readers to write
letters to the editor in response to any articles we publish.
A
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