On the afternoon of Saturday, March 2, 2024, the Lincoln City Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen regarding suspicious activity at the Lincoln City Outlets. The caller noticed several occupants of a minivan making multiple trips into the Lincoln City Outlets with empty retail bags and returning with full bags over a short period of time, as well as changing their own clothing between trips. Officers recognized this as being consistent with several recently reported instances of Organized Retail Theft with matching descriptions of the suspects involved.
Multiple Lincoln City Police Officers responded and began investigating. Inside the minivan, Officers located 45-year-old Joel Duarte Pena, and 46-year-old Juan Carlos Espejo, both of Los Angeles, California, and began speaking with the men, one of whom provided a false name. After being Mirandized, Duarte Pena attempted to flee the scene, running back into the Outlet Mall with an Officer in pursuit. An off-duty Hood River Sheriff’s Deputy assisted the Officer with taking Duarte Pena into custody, and both he and Espejo were transported and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on numerous charges. Two suspects remain at large, but are not believed to be in the area.
In the following days, the Lincoln City Police Department seized and searched the minivan under a search warrant and recovered approximately $6000 of stolen retail merchandise. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected to follow.
The Lincoln City Police Department extends its gratitude to the Hood River Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
Additionally, and most importantly, we at the Lincoln City Police Department depend on the eyes and ears of the public to report suspicious activity. Property crimes affect the law-abiding public through increased costs for consumers, and can influence where businesses decide to locate. We rely on our partnership with the public to deter crime in our community, and appreciate the trust and support.