Armed carjacking investigation leads to arrests of suspect and victim

An attempted carjacking investigation in Tigard has led to two arrests, as well as a gun and drugs seized.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An attempted carjacking investigation in Tigard has led to two arrests, as well as a gun and drugs seized.

The Tigard Police Department said that on Tuesday at 12:40 p.m., patrol officers responded to the incident at a restaurant in the 6600 block of Southwest Cardinal Lane. Officers then learned that two suspects allegedly pulled a gun on a man, attempting to steal his car, before running off on foot near Southwest Sequoia Parkway.

One of the suspects, 23-year-old Kyle Fletcher, was quickly located and arrested. He was charged with first-degree robbery.

"We called for regional help in the area. We had a K-9 going. First suspect caught pretty easily and pretty quickly," Tigard Detective Sergeant Luis Rivera told KOIN 6 News.

While searching for the second suspect, a nearby restaurant in the 15200 block of Southwest Sequoia Parkway called police saying "they observed a patron displaying suspicious behavior."

"He was contacted and we were able to ID that he was the outstanding suspect," Rivera said.

The man, 38-year-old Andrew Dibenedetto, was detained. Officers said they recovered a handgun. They also recovered pills and powder, both of which are suspected to be fentanyl pending further investigation. However, Dibenedetto was not arrested but was interviewed and released. Officials said charges for him are being referred to the Washington County District Attorney's Office amid an ongoing investigation.

Detectives said when they ran the name of the victim of the attempted carjacking, Aleksandar Atanansov, through their system, he had outstanding arrest warrants for misdemeanors in Washington and Clackamas Counties. The 36-year-old was subsequently arrested by Tigard police.

No one was hurt in the incident.