The Bend Police Department is offering a cash reward for information that leads to arrest of attempted armed robbery suspect. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, Bend Police took a report of an attempted robbery at the Red Carpet car wash in the 2600 block of NE Twin Knolls Drive that had taken place at approximately 10:45 p.m. the night before. Officers learned the victim had parked in a car wash bay to clear snow off his truck. The victim reported that two men parked in the bay next to his and approached him. One of the suspects pointed a gun at him and the suspects demanded he give them his wallet and money. The victim and the suspects fought before the victim was able to get into his truck and drive away.
Officers have identified 38-year-old Bend resident Ethan Russell Christensen as one of the suspects in the incident.
At approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, an officer located Christensen driving a black Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound on Arizona Avenue near Wall Street. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle at SW Bond Street and Bluff Drive in the Old Mill, but the vehicle sped away into oncoming traffic, hitting two vehicles as it fled the area.
Officers located the unoccupied vehicle minutes later parked at Farewell Bend Park. Detectives wrote a search warrant to seize the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and officers set up a perimeter and searched the area with multiple K9s and drones, but were unable to locate Christensen.
Bend Police may provide a cash reward for information that leads to Christensen’s arrest. If you have information about Christensen’s whereabouts, you’re asked to call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.
The Bend Police Department wishes to thank the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit for its assistance in the search for Christensen
