Details in alleged armed robbery are released
By Terry Murry on Saturday, August 14th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
HERMISTON – Lamberto Chairez Soto, 31, of Hermiston is arrested for multiple charges including armed robbery and attempted armed robbery in Hermiston yesterday. Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston issued a news release detailing the events that led to the arrest:
On August 13, 2021, at about 1711 hours, a 911 call was received from Tienda La Comadre (547 E Main Street), in Hermiston. The reporting party advised a male subject brandishing a handgun, entered the business yelling (in Spanish) for everyone to put up their hands. The armed business owner defended himself and the suspect fled the store.
The suspect was described as a stocky build Hispanic male adult, around 30 years old, with a white shirt and jeans on. The suspect was seen by the reporting party, running northeast from the front of the business.
As officers canvased the area, they located a 53-year-old lady who lives in the 600 block of E Gladys Ave. The victim gave a similar description of the male and reported he knocked on her door. Upon opening it, the subject showed a handgun and forced himself into her home, striking her in the head and demanding money. The subject took her phone, keys, and vehicle, a 2017 black Ford SUV.
A short time later, an HPD officer located the vehicle parked at the Southgate Village Apartments (1150 S 1st Street), unoccupied. Upon speaking with people in the area, video of the suspect exiting the car was located on a Ring camera from one of the persons living at Southgate Village and shared with responding officers.
An HPD officer located the suspect in the potato chip aisle at Safeway and attempted to detain him. The suspect resisted and a Taser was deployed. The Taser darts did not make full contact and the suspect fled on foot.
The HPD officer chased the subject out of Safeway and was joined by an OSP trooper. The foot chase crossed Hwy 395 and entered the parking lot of Pho Quan Vietnamese where the trooper deployed a Taser. The deployment was successful, and the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect was identified as Lamberto Chairez Soto, 31 years old of 31985 Diagonal Road, Hermiston. Soto was found to also have a no-bail warrant out of the Department of Corrections.
Soto was lodged on the following cases and charges: Robbery I, Theft I, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Robbery I, Kidnap I, Burglary I, Pointing a Firearm at Another, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, UUMV, Theft II, and the DOC warrant.In addition to the Oregon State Police, HPD also received assistance from the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
