Woodburn man accused of wearing fake bombs while robbing convenience stores

As cops tried to apprehend a robbery suspect wearing a vest that looked to be filled with explosives on Thursday, Woodburn police called in a bomb squad.

According to the authorities, the bombs were phony.

Around ten in the morning, Woodburn resident Nicolas Contreras-Salmion, 33, was taken into custody close to the intersection of Lincoln Street and North Pacific Highway. According to a statement from the Woodburn Police Department, he is expected to be charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree attempted robbery, and possession of a hoax device.

According to the police, Contreras-Salmion participated in two robberies at Woodburn convenience stores on January 19 and February 7, wearing a homemade vest containing fictitious bombs.

Police said they retrieved the fake bomb used in the Feb. 7 heist on Thursday and discovered the fake bomb used in the Jan. 19 robbery a few days after the robbery.

Police claimed that Contreras-Salmion, who fit the description of the robbery suspect, was apprehended on Thursday.

Officers detained the man and left the vest on him until the bomb squad from the Oregon State Police came and was able to identify the phony devices.

Police want anyone with information regarding the robberies to contact Detective Jonny Ellis at the Woodburn Police Department at 503-982-2345.

Crime, public safety, and local news are all topics covered by breaking news reporter Tatum Todd. You can contact them at 503-221-4313 or [email protected].