Police arrest two for Gresham armed robbery

Credit card purchase leads police to suspects

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 28, 2010, Updated Jul 30, 2010 (1 Reader comment)

contributed photo / Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Christopher Thomas and James Ballard

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A tip from a victim’s credit card company led Troutdale police to arrest two men Wednesday, July 28, in conjunction with an armed robbery at a Gresham residence on Tuesday.

Christopher Jamal Thomas, 20, of Fairview, and James E. Ballard, 27, of Vancouver, Wash., were arrested around 10:55 p.m. after the victim and his wife identified them as the two allegedly involved in the robbery.

Gresham police responded at 9:10 p.m. Tuesday to a report of armed robbery in the 2100 block of Southeast 180th Avenue. The victim, who was standing in his driveway, said two males took his wallet at gunpoint and ran off.

An area resident described seeing a small white Acura driving through the area with its headlights off before police arrived.

From his credit card company the victim learned that his card had just been used at a McDonald’s on Southeast 242nd Avenue and Cherry Park Road in Troutdale as well as at the Safeway gas station next door.

Troutdale police checked surveillance video at the Safeway and observed a small white vehicle, which the attendant described as an Acura occupied by five black males.

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