FBI Asking for Public’s Help Identifying Armed and Dangerous Robber

The FBI is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the man dubbed the “River Rat” who is responsible for a series of violent bank robberies and store robberies in Oregon and Washington over the past few weeks. In each case, the man has entered the bank or store, displayed a black handgun and demanded cash. In several cases, he actually leaped onto or over the teller counter to get to the cash. His most recent robbery occurred on Wednesday at approximately 1:30 p.m. when he robbed Riverview Community Bank located at 10401 NE Halsey in Portland. He robbed this same bank exactly one week ago (August 19th).

The same man is believed responsible for the robberies of two banks and a payday loan advance business (for a total of six robberies) in recent weeks, including:

• August 7, 2009 - Columbia State Bank, 10735 NE Halsey, Portland
• August 10, 2009 - Advance America, 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
• August 11, 2009 - Key Bank, 13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
• August 25, 2009 - Advance America, 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver Witnesses describe the man as:

White
Age: 20’s - mid 30’s
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 165 pounds
Build: Medium
Clothing: Sometimes wears a black athletic-style jacket with a white stripe or a gray zip-up sweatshirt; a baseball cap (sometimes camouflage), dark sunglasses; latex gloves
Other: Speaks with an accent

Investigators gave this suspect the nickname “River Rat” because he is robbing banks on both sides of the Columbia River, and he has robbed Riverview Community Bank twice. No one has been injured in any of these robberies, but this man should be considered armed and dangerous. No one should approach him. If in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, anyone who has a tip is asked to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or Det. Scott Smith at the Vancouver Police Department at (360) 487-7416.