Police ask for help finding suspected movie gun thief
PORTLAND, Ore. – Police detectives are asking for the public’s help finding a man who they said stole two guns used as movie props from a Southeast Portland video store.
Erick Duane Johnson, 47, was identified by tips from the public, police said. They released surveillance video from the July 24 theft.
Johnson has a parole violation warrant and there is probable cause to arrest him for the theft.
Police said Johnson stole two guns used in western movies from Movie Madness at 4320 SE Belmont. One gun is a Winchester rifle used by John Wayne in the 1962 film “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance.” The other is a shotgun used by William Holden in the 1969 film “The Wild Bunch.”
Neither gun shoots actual bullets.
Police said Johnson was in the store for about 25 minutes before he broke into a locked display cabinet and stole the guns. They have not been found.
Johnson is a white man who is 5’7’’ tall and weighs about 185 pounds. He is bald with short, brown hair and blue eyes. Police said he rode away from the store on a dark-colored mountain bike.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to Johnson’s arrest. If you have any information you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-4357 or leave a tip online.
Hope he had his mountain bike locked up while he was in Movie Madness 'browsing' for 25 minutes !
KATU - Valance, Liberty Valance.
Chase - It's a prop gun, like 'The Duke' himself its a bit of fiction.
I'm so very glad I have a solid alibi 80 miles away. I would dearly love to reverently touch Duke's 1892 Winchester, with the circular lever for one-hand operation. I hope they get the guns back before the alledged Erick Duane hurts himself. Unless he has long arms, trying the one-hand swing to eject and load may get Erick a face-full of front sight, and I'd hate a nice gun like that to get all bloody.
@Chase You're liable to get a face-full of the Duke's load yourself if you keep reverently touching his barrel like that
What-the-fool: Not everyone's bent in your direction, but I wish you well in your pursuit of happiness.