Married Couple Arrested For Robbery: Sheriff

TROUTDALE, OR — County deputies on Sunday arrested a married couple from Virginia who are suspected of robbing a Safeway gas station in Troutdale before leading law enforcement on a car chase down Interstate-84.

Joshua Vaughn Miller, 36, and Sandra Dee Miller (née Elliott), 38, of Unionville, Virginia, were both taken to Multnomah County Jail following their arrests. Both are being held for extradition back to Virginia to face drug-related charges, Multnomah County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Marc Shrake told Patch Tuesday.

Additionally, Joshua is charged with assault, robbery, and interfering with both a police officer and police animal.

According to MCSO spokesman Sgt. Bryan White, deputies were dispatched to a reported robbery at the Safeway on Cherry Park Road in Troutdale around 11:15 p.m. May 6.

Witnesses reportedly told investigators that two people wearing masks approached the gas station attendants as they were shutting down the pumps for the night. Armed with a handgun and knife, the masked suspects robbed the attendants and fled in a vehicle.

Deputies searching for a vehicle matching the given description located the Millers as they were pulling onto eastbound I-84.

At some point after the deputies' initial attempt to stop the Millers, during the ensuing police pursuit, the Millers reportedly turned themselves around and began traveling east while in the westbound lanes on I-84.

Deputies continued traveling parallel to the Millers from the eastbound lanes, all the while trying to get ahead of them.

After a time, the Millers got off the freeway and escaped when deputies lost sight of their getaway car.

Deputies still searching the area reportedly found the Millers' vehicle about an hour later, abandoned on Southeast Bull Run Road in Clackamas County.

Three other law enforcement agencies from Sandy, Oregon City, and Clackamas County helped search the area where Multnomah County deputies found the abandoned car.

The Millers were eventually found about 20 yards off the road, White said, noting that both Joshua and Sandra again tried to flee into the nearby forest area.

Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies let loose a K9 unit to track the pair, White said. During the search, Joshua Miller reportedly fought with and injured both a K9 and her deputy handler.

One of the Millers quickly surrendered, though police did not specify who; the other was arrested a short time later roughly 25 yards deeper into the wooded area.

Images via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office