Union County Sheriff's Office makes arrest in connection with armed robbery at Island City Market

Deputy Dustin Heath responded to Island City Market shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, after dispatch received a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the convenience store, according to the probable cause declaration. A white male, whom law enforcement have identified as Hines, came into the store. He pointed a firearm at the cashier and demanded cash, according to the cashier and owners. The cashier reported that she was too scared to give him the money, so he reached over the counter and took approximately $500 from the register.

Hines fled from the convenience store and local law enforcement agencies were unable to locate him at the time, according to the sheriff’s press release.

Over the course of his investigation Heath gathered information that allegedly links Hines to the robbery.

One source told Heath he had given Hines a BB gun on Aug. 19 that looked similar to the one seen in the videos of the robbery, according to the probable cause declaration. Another source said Hines called him after the robbery wanting to meet at a business in Union. When the source told Hines they could meet at his house instead, Hines supposedly told him that something had just happened in town and he could not go back.

Heath applied for a search warrant of Hines’ cellphone data, which showed his phone was in the area at the time of the robbery, according to the probable cause declaration.

On Feb. 14, a source told Heath he would testify that Hines had told him he robbed the market. Then on Feb. 27, Heath met with a source who told him that when speaking with Hines about a new tattoo gun, Hines allegedly asked if the source could tattoo his hands so he couldn’t be identified as the suspect in the pictures of the Island City Market robbery.

Heath notified the Enterprise Police Department that there was a warrant out for Hines’ arrest on March 1, according to the probable cause declaration. Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Enterprise Police Chief Kevin McQuead alerted Heath that he had Hines detained. Heath made the drive to Enterprise where he arrested Hines before transporting him to Union County Jail.

Union County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Powers has set bail at $50,000. Hines is represented by court-appointed counsel, Baker City attorney Kyra Rohner. He is due in court for a preliminary probable cause hearing on March 9.