Crime & Safety
Portland International Airport Bag Handler Stole Guns, Cops Say
Kelly told officers that he stole the guns so he could sell them and get money to keep his girlfriend and their son from being evicted.
PORTLAND, OR – A baggage handler at Portland International Airport is under arrest, charged with stealing six guns from people's bags. Deshawn Kelly, a 26-year-old from Northeast Portland, is charged with theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kelly, who had been working at the airport for less than one year as an employee of a company that provides contact services at the airport.
Court documents indicate that Kelly said he took the guns to sell them and get money to stop the pending eviction of his girlfriend and their son. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.
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Port of Police said that after they received information about guns being stolen, they planted so-called "bait" guns and that was how they caught Kelly.
Five of the six guns have been recovered.
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Photo via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
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