Baker City man arrested after bank robbery in SW Oregon

For less than an hour on Wednesday morning, Paul Helgerson was a bank robber. It was a fleeting adventure, however, because police in Glide, Ore., captured the Baker City, Ore., man just 43 minutes after the 911 center received a report of a holdup alarm. That alarm came from Premier West Bank at 10:11 a.m. where Helgerson is alleged to have attempted the robbery.

Helgerson, 32, now faces theft and robbery charges in Douglas County. Helgerson also has outstanding warrants for theft and forgery charges.
Sheriff’s deputies, BLM Law Enforcement and Roseburg Police responded to the bank where employees said a male subject had entered the bank and told a teller he was robbing the bank and to put the money in the bag. The man then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Officers canvassed the area looking for the suspect that was described by bank employees. The officers were assisted by a citizen who called 911 to report she saw the suspect near her home on Estelle Street in Glide.

At 10:54 a.m., Helgerson was located in a wooded area a short distance from the bank. He was taken into custody without incident. Investigators were able to recover the cash and Helgerson was taken to Douglas County Jail where he is lodged on First Degree Theft and Third Degree Robbery Charges.