Portland, OR — On June 11, 2025, Portland Police Bureau’s Central Neighborhood Response Team and East Precinct officers arrested two suspects connected to a large-scale organized retail theft ring. The suspects, Markesha McGruder, 33, and Elexis Jackson, 28, both of Portland, were apprehended without incident during a coordinated traffic stop near Northeast Halsey Street and Northeast 112th Avenue.
Officers recovered 25 pieces of suspected stolen merchandise, many with security tags still attached. The items were linked to multiple high-end retail stores across Portland and along the I-5 corridor, emphasizing the extensive and coordinated nature of the theft operation.
McGruder faces multiple charges including four counts of Organized Retail Crime, ten counts of Theft in the First Degree, two counts of Theft in the Second Degree, and one count of Aggravated Theft. Jackson faces two counts of Organized Retail Crime, four counts of Theft in the First Degree, and one count of Aggravated Theft.
These arrests are the result of a months-long investigation led by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Justice and the Organized Retail Theft Association of Oregon (ORCAOR). The successful operation marks a significant step toward dismantling a criminal network impacting local businesses.
Authorities continue to collaborate with retail loss prevention teams and thank community members and businesses for providing crucial information aiding the investigation.
