Page A2
(Pbevruer
February 13, 2002
Sitie fflortlanh Qöhgmier
P olice / V ancouver
Four Charged in Tavern Robberies
REW A RD
$10,000
For information leading to the arrest and
conviction in the murder of Melissa Bittler.
Desiree Lamorte
Darryel Lee
Four people have been arrested
and charged in a string of armed
robberies at Portland area taverns.
The suspects are identified as
43-year-old John Gregg Walter,
50-year-old John Whiley, 38-year-
old Desiree Lamorte, and46-year-
old Darryel Glenn Lee.
They are accused of 10 tavern
robberies between Oct. 22 and
John Walter
John Whiley
Nov. 26.
In the first eight robberies, de
tectives believe that Whiley, who
w orked as a taxi driver, and
Lamorte walked through a tavern
to scout out the tavern floor plan
along with information about the
number of patrons and employ
ees.
Police said W alter would then
enter the tavern and commit an
armed robbery, and exit the estab
lishment by jumping into Whiley ’ s
taxicab for a quick getaway.
After W alter was taken into
police custody, detectives believe
Whiley, Lamorte, and Lee used
the same method and handgun to
commit two additional tavern rob
beries.
Roommate Killer to Serve 8 Years
Murder Suspect
black male, 33-50 years of age
5’9” to 6’, medium build, receding hairline
On December 13th, 14-year-old Melissa Bittler was murdered near her
home at the 4500 block of Northeast 35th Avenue in Northeast Portland.
T he P o rtla n d P o lic e B u reau has re le a se d th is sk e tc h to
help find M elissa’s killer, and a local chapter of CrimeStoppers is
offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture and
conviction. If you have seen this man or have information that could
help lead to his arrest, please call Crim eStoppers or the Portland
Police Department’s Tips Hotline. Callers do not have to give their
nam es, and rew ards are paid in cash w ith no questions asked.
Crimsstoppers
503-823-4357
Tips Hotline
503-823-4731
PUBLIC SERVE E ANNOUNCEMENT ER( )M 1 1 IE P( »R I I .AM ) ( »BSERV1 R M W SPARI R
she turned herself in
(AP) — A young
and cooperated with
woman has been sen
investigators, law
tenced to eight years
in prison for the death
yers said.
Smith was found
of her former room
mate in what she said
dead in his apartment
near the Vancouver
was an attempt to
Mall on Feb. 4,2000,
scare him into giving
a few months after
her money.
Douglas moved out.
Kimber Douglas,
Police said the inves
23, o f Vancouver, Kimber Douglas
tigation was stalled
pleaded guilty to sec
ond-degree murder in the death of
until Douglas confessed to her
Alex Smith, 19, received an un
role 11 months later.
usually short sentence because
Police said Douglas told offic
ers she and C hristopher Neil
Ladner, a friend from the W ash
ington State School for the Deaf,
planned to scare Smith into giving
them money when they took two
loaded guns and a knife to his
apartment.
Instead, deputy prosecutor
Mike Kinnie said, the situation
“got out of hand real fast.” In a
confession, Douglas said Ladner
stabbed and shot Smith.
Ladner is in prison until at least
2005 on an unrelated assault and
has not been charged in the case.
Chief Proposes Hiring Freeze and Staff Cuts
(AP) — Portland Police Chief
Mark Kroeker has proposed a hir
ing freeze and the elimination of
precinct desk clerks to deal with a
$3 million shortfall this fiscal year.
Kroeker would also cut some
part-time and full-time staff.
Firing the desk clerks would
save an estimated $248,272 be
tween now and the end of the
fiscal year. It would also be the
second time the chief has targeted
civilian desk clerks within a year.
In July, the bureau eliminated
21 of 46 front-desk clerk jobs, ef
fectively reducing the hours that
four of the bureau ’ s five precincts
are open to the public.
NEW S E A S O N S
4
I
Getting rid o f the remaining 25
desk clerk jobs would further scale
back precinct hours to a 6 p.m.
closure on weekdays.
“This has just kind o f stunned
us here,” Northeast Precinct Cmdr.
Derrick Foxworth said. “These
cuts are deep, and they’re going
to hurt us all.”