T1B

PORTLAND, Ore. - A Comcast employee faces some serious charges after police say he was involved in a robbery at a check cashing business that left a woman who works there badly beaten.

Michael Hagen, 25, was arrested and charged with attempted aggravated murder, robbery and assault in connection with a violent robbery at Ace Checks Cashed, located at the intersection of Southeast 73rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

Employees at Chair Outlet, located next door, said it all began when their phones went out and a short time later, a Comcast van pulled up. They said they remember thinking it was odd because the building's phone service is from Quest.

Sean Lamb, an employee at Chair Outlet, went next door to check on things and discovered the woman who works behind the glass badly hurt.

"It was pretty brutal," he said. "She was covered in blood. She looked beaten."

At first police believed the man in the Comcast uniform and van was posing as an employee of the cable company but they later learned that he actually did work there.

Comcast released the following statement upon hearing about the incident:

"We were appalled to learn of this situation and our thoughts remain with the store employee and her family. We continue to work closely and cooperate with local authorities and have put the individual on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The safety of the members of the Portland community is our top priority."

Investigators actually took two men into custody but let one of them go late Wednesday afternoon.

The victim is recovering at a local hospital from a variety of injuries, including injuries to her head.

Police are asking any commercial business that has had suspicious contact with a Comcast employee to call Detective Chris Traynor at (503) 823-0464.

Dinsdale wrote:
I just happened to be driving through that hood when they caught the douchebag -- if I had a camera, I would have taken a wonderfully symbolic pic -- a Comcast van covered in crime-scene tape.

Derron wrote: Shocking that Dins would be in the area know as " Felony Flats" in the AM.....

I was at 182nd and Stark

Dinsdale wrote: Dumbass didn't make it more than about a mile.

Dinsdale wrote:

Derron wrote: Shocking that Dins would be in the area know as " Felony Flats" in the AM.....

I was at 182nd and Stark

Nice neighborhood, buddy.


I wonder how many Comcast guys got shaken down yesterday morning?

The one I saw getting it was the guy in the news pics... since I was just a few blocks from the crime scene (maybe about 70th and Holgate, maybe?). Dumbass didn't make it more than about a mile.

Mikey wrote:
Prolly at his next appointment. At least they have their scheduling down.

"It was pretty brutal," he said. "She was covered in blood. She looked beaten."

PORTLAND, Ore. - Police are still trying to find evidence tying Comcast employee, Michael Hagen, 25, to the brutal attack at Ace Checks Cashed, located at the intersection of Southeast 73rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

The owner of Ace Checks Cashed was asked to provide the video coverage to the police of the time of the incident. Unfortunately, the recording device was hooked up to their Comcast DVR, and it was not functioning properly at the time of the attacks.

More to come as this story breaks.

IndyFrisco wrote:Update...

PORTLAND, Ore. - Police are still trying to find evidence tying Comcast employee, Michael Hagen, 25, to the brutal attack at Ace Checks Cashed, located at the intersection of Southeast 73rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

The owner of Ace Checks Cashed was asked to provide the video coverage to the police of the time of the incident. Unfortunately, the recording device was hooked up to their Comcast DVR, and it was not functioning properly at the time of the attacks.

More to come as this story breaks.