Investigators sorting through recovered stolen property.

Four people are facing charges after Tigard Police interrupted suspected Organized Retail Theft at a local shopping center and recovered nearly $10,000 in stolen merchandise.

On April 15, 2024 at 1:54PM, loss prevention employees at a store on SW Washington Square Road contacted detectives with the Tigard Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Unit, to say a person was stealing merchandise.

Detectives responded and learned the person was part of a four-person crew associated with Organized Retail Theft that had been stealing merchandise and committing fraudulent returns.

One of the subjects ran from loss prevention and hid in the back of a van in the parking lot. Officers and detectives responded and blocked in the van. The man initially did not comply with officers’ commands to come out. After several minutes, he did exit the van but repeatedly reached for his waistband, and a K-9 and foam 40mm round were used to safely take him into custody. 

Investigators learned the group came to the area from Seattle and detectives believe they committed similar crimes at another store location in Portland at roughly 12:15PM, just prior to coming to Tigard. They are all facing charges of theft I, attempted theft I and theft 2, and have been identified as:

1. George Alvarez-Herrera, age 26, from Seattle
2. Jahyaire Wilson, age 32, from Seattle (the person in the van)
3. Dery’Aunte Sims, age 27, from Seattle
4. Ashley Hall, age 37, from Portland (also charged with identity theft)

Additional charges are expected. To learn more about the Commercial Crimes Unit, visit www.tigard-or.gov/CCU. 

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Two people were killed and a third went to the hospital after an early morning traffic crash.

At 6:20AM, Tigard Police officers were dispatched to the crash at SW Roy Rogers Road at SW Perth Road. Witnesses reported a Nissan Altima and GMC Terrain collided, and the Altima had rolled over and was on fire. Firefighters and paramedics from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue put the fire out and worked to free a patient from the car.

Officers and paramedics tried life-saving measures, including CPR, but unfortunately the driver and rear passenger in the Altima died. The front passenger in the car survived the crash. The driver and sole occupant of the GMC Terrain was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.

A Tigard Police officer used a drone with thermal imaging to check the surrounding area for any potential additional victims. Thankfully, none were found.

The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) responded to the scene. SW Roy Rogers was closed for several hours for the investigation, but the road is now back open. 

We’d like to thank our partners at TVF&R and CART for their work at this very chaotic scene. 

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The scene of the crash at 99W & 78th

A man was arrested on several charges after hitting six cars in a serious traffic crash that sent two people to the hospital.

On Wednesday, March 27^TH at 5:36 PM, Tigard Police patrol officers responded to SW Pacific Highway (99W) near SW 78^th for a traffic crash. Witnesses reported the driver of a pickup ran a red light, hit several cars and had been driving erratically before the crash. Officers learned the driver actually hit five cars along southbound 99W, and after going through the light at 78^th, he hit a sixth car, wrecking both the car and his pickup. 

Witnesses reported the driver, who was later identified as 43-year-old David Rudge, got out of his truck with a knife. An off-duty Lake Oswego police officer happened to be nearby and helped hold down Rudge, along with other witnesses, until Tigard Police arrived to safely take him into custody.

The two occupants of the sixth car that was hit were taken to the hospital with injuries that don’t appear to be life threatening. Southbound 99W was closed for a time due to the extent of the crime scene and crash investigation.

Officers learned Mr. Rudge had eluded police in Lake Oswego earlier in the day around 4 PM. Rudge was taken to the Washington County Jail on a number of charges, including several vehicular assault charges, hit and run – vehicle injury charges, reckless driving, and several counts of criminal mischief for each of the damaged vehicles.

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Members of the media are invited to talk with Officer Travis Gregston tomorrow, as he returns to full duty after being in an on-duty traffic crash.

Officer Gregston, who rides a motorcycle as part of the Tigard Police Traffic Safety Unit, was responding to a priority call on March 12^th with his lights and siren on. As he came through the intersection at SW Hall Blvd and SW Hunziker Rd, a driver pulled in front of him in a Chevrolet Tahoe and the two collided. The driver was not hurt. Officer Gregston went to the hospital as a precaution and has a minor knee injury. His motorcycle was heavily damaged in the crash.

The driver told officers she heard the siren, but didn’t see anyone coming. As he returns to full duty on a motorcycle, the Tigard Police Department would like to talk about the larger issue of safety and what to do when you hear sirens – especially as a reminder that the siren you hear may be coming from a first responder on a motorcycle.

Video of the crash from Officer Gregston’s body worn camera will also be provided.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 26^th at 11:30 AM

WHERE: Tigard Police Department (13125 SW Hall Blvd)

Please RVSP to the PIO if you plan to attend.

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