Tigard Police

A grandmother is facing several charges after officers believe she passed out in a parked car from fentanyl use, and exposed her 10-month-old granddaughter to the drug. On Friday, May 3rd at 10:35PM a Tigard Police officer was patrolling the Tigard Plaza Shopping Center when he came upon an unlicensed Jeep that was parked and running. The officer saw the driver appeared to be passed out behind the wheel, and drug paraphernalia was out in plain view. The officer also saw there was a 10-month-old baby in the back seat, sitting in a car seat. The officer woke up the driver, who was later identified as Julia Apostello, age 53, from Portland. Officers learned Ms. Apostello is the baby’s grandmother. She was arrested and placed in a patrol car. Officers also contacted the baby’s mother, who was inside a nearby business with her 4-year-old child, at the time. She returned to the Jeep and told officers she’d been gone for roughly half an hour.Out of a concern for the baby’s safety and potential exposure to drugs, the 10-month-old was taken to the hospital. Medical personnel confirmed the baby tested positive for fentanyl, and the baby remained there for treatment. Ms. Apostello was taken to the Washington County Jail, where she’s facing charges of criminal mistreatment I, child neglect II, endangering the welfare of a minor, criminal mistreatment II and recklessly endangering. Officers recovered a powdered substance from the Jeep, which was tested at the Tigard Police Department. The rapid test identified the substance as fentanyl.###

Four people are facing charges after Tigard Police interrupted suspected Organized Retail Theft at a local shopping center and recovered nearly $10,000 in stolen merchandise.On April 15, 2024 at 1:54PM, loss prevention employees at a store on SW Washington Square Road contacted detectives with the Tigard Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Unit, to say a person was stealing merchandise.Detectives responded and learned the person was part of a four-person crew associated with Organized Retail Theft that had been stealing merchandise and committing fraudulent returns.One of the subjects ran from loss prevention and hid in the back of a van in the parking lot. Officers and detectives responded and blocked in the van. The man initially did not comply with officers’ commands to come out. After several minutes, he did exit the van but repeatedly reached for his waistband, and a K-9 and foam 40mm round were used to safely take him into custody. Investigators learned the group came to the area from Seattle and detectives believe they committed similar crimes at another store location in Portland at roughly 12:15PM, just prior to coming to Tigard. They are all facing charges of theft I, attempted theft I and theft 2, and have been identified as:George Alvarez-Herrera, age 26, from SeattleJahyaire Wilson, age 32, from Seattle (the person in the van)Dery’Aunte Sims, age 27, from SeattleAshley Hall, age 37, from Portland (also charged with identity theft)Additional charges are expected. To learn more about the Commercial Crimes Unit, visit www.tigard-or.gov/CCU. ###