MEDIA RELEASE

Beaverton Police Department

4755 SW Griffith Drive
Beaverton, OR 97076-4755
503-526-2260

Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Contact: Detective Pam Yazzolino Chief Geoff Spalding

Public Information Officer
503-526-2275
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Purse Thief Caught by Good Samaritans

On Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, at 10:25 p.m. the Beaverton police were called to a
reported theft at Ava’s Roasteria, 4655 SW Hall Boulevard. A young woman, 21 year old
Alexandra Smithey, told police her purse had been stolen while at the local coffee shop
and three male customers had chased after the suspect.

Ms. Smithey said she had gotten up to use the restroom, leaving her purse on a chair at
the table. She told police she was gone less than a minute and when she returned a
gentleman sitting nearby told her he believed a man just walked out with her purse.

Ms. Smithey went outside and saw the suspect, later identified as Marcus Lynn Walker,
running away with her purse in hand. She began running after him, following the three
Good Samaritans who were already in chase and yelling for the suspect to stop.

Once Ms. Smithey got to City Park she saw the group of men in front of the restrooms,
located on the corner of SW Watson Avenue and SW 5th Street, apparently keeping
someone inside.

When police arrived they found Marcus Lynn Walker in the restroom with the stolen
purse. The purse and all its contents were returned to Ms. Smithey. Walker was arrested
for Theft II and lodged at the Washington County Jail.

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