MEDFORD, Ore. — Police have made an arrest in connection with a 2018 armed robbery at a Medford market.
Last April, a masked man walked into the Woodland Heights Market at the corner of Prune Street and Columbus Avenue. He jumped over the counter and demanded cash while holding a knife. According to police, the robber took off before officers got there. However, they found an item worn by the suspect during the robbery in a nearby neighborhood.
Oregon State Police technicians were able to do DNA testing on that item and link it to 23-year-old Andrew Beck. Beck is a convicted felon, and on probation for burglary.
According to Medford Police, Beck was interviewed on Tuesday and booked at the Jackson County Jail on a charge of 1st and second-degree robbery.
“It’s just a matter of if we get lucky and find a piece of evidence that’s going to be valuable,” said Lt. Mike Budreau, Medford Police Department. “There have been many other cases of armed robberies where the suspect discards clothing or a ski mask or something like that because that’s evidence that will link them to the crime.”
Wednesday, a court-appointed attorney entered a plea of “not guilty” for Beck in court.
Police say he struggled with a methamphetamine addiction, which they say was a motivation for the crime.
His bail is set at $250,000.
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