 Our very own
"dumb crook" story
On October 21, at 4:11 pm, Washington County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the Bank of America at 12600 NW Cornell, for a reported robbery. A man had demanded and received money. There was no weapon used or implied. The bank employees said the man left on a bicycle. "Of course we were nervous," said Branch Manager Char Homgren. "It's always a frightening thing."
Sheriff's Deputies immediately converged on the area in an attempt to contain and locate the suspect. Sheriff's Deputy K9 "Hudson" and his handler began a K9 track. The dog located a bicycle and a jacket in a sandpile behind Cedar Mill Lumber. Owner Ken Anderson said he had noticed the man crossing the yard, but wasn't concerned because people occasionally cut through their property.
The dog led deputies toward the back of the Chiam restaurant where there is a cocktail lounge. Just after 5 pm, they found a man who matched the description of the suspect sitting at the bar having a beer and eating a meal.
 Washington County Sheriff's Deputies began questioning the man, who was identified as Ben Walter Hoopes, 53, from Wyoming. Witnesses identified Mr. Hoopes as the suspect and he was arrested without incident. He had the small amount of cash stolen from the bank in his possession.
Investigators contacted the FBI to assist with the investigation, because they always get involved in bank robberies. The Washington County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Unit responded to assist in discovering, collecting, and processing evidence. An employee of Bob Stirling's State Farm Insurance agency, located behind Chiam, said they searched the back of her pickup truck while looking for evidence.
Hoopes was turned over to the FBI who lodged him in the Multnomah County Jail on various charges.
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