Bank robber flees in taxi, gets caught

Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 12, 2015

A taxi turned out to be a poor getaway car for a Portland bank robber Saturday.

James K. Lee, 54, is lodged in the Multnomah County Jail on a parole violation and a U.S. Marshal’s hold for Bank Robbery. He was arrested after being caught trying to flee in a taxi.

According to police, at 11:22 a.m. on July 11, East Precinct officers received a call of a robbery in progress at the Key Bank in the 14700 block of Southeast Division Street. Before they arrived, the officers learned that the suspect, described as a “chubby” male white in his 60’s, was last seen headed westbound on Division on foot.

When the officers reached the bank, they learned the suspect left the area in a taxi. It was located and the suspect, later identified as Lee, was arrested in a high risk stop.

Investigators do not believe any other suspects were involved in the robbery.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division at 530-823-0400.