Portland Police Bust Mini Mart Owner Tied to Dawson Park’s Open-Air Narcotics Scene
On Monday, after a year-long investigation triggered by residents of the Eliot neighborhood who were concerned that an open-air drug market in Dawson Park emanated from a nearby business, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) seized a large quantity of drugs and several firearms from the Stop n Go Mini Mart across from the park. The owner was arrested on drug charges.
Dawson Park Mini Mart Owner Connected To Drug Sales Arrested
Eliot community members approached the PPB in March last year with allegations of criminal behavior linked to a mini market near Dawson Park.
In collaboration with PPB’s Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) and Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (NOC), PPB’s North Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) launched an investigation into the Stop N Go Mini Mart located at 2858 North Williams Avenue.
The Stop N Go owner, Donald Sharma, 43, of Beaverton, was arrested on Monday during a traffic stop on North Cook Street near North Gantenbein Avenue.
Soon thereafter, armed with a search warrant, PPB officers searched the convenience store, and detectives seized cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, two firearms (one stolen), multiple replica guns, and $6,600 in cash.
Several digital scales covered in suspected drug residue and a box of razor blades thought to be used for cutting narcotics were also seized.
Sharma was lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center on numerous drug charges.
PPB indicated that the trafficking of drugs in and out of the store was a contributing factor to the open-air drug market in Dawson Park and gun violence in the area.
Investigators have confidence that the arrest and seizures will positively impact the Eliot Neighborhood and the greater community.
PPB asks anyone with information about this case to contact [email protected] using the reference case number 25-680063.
PPB Chief Bob Day joined city and community leaders to discuss the case at a news conference at Dawson Park, which can be found on this YouTube link.
So it took them a year of him keeping on selling drugs out of this store before they could shut him down? What Stellar police work. If they really wanted to stop this gun violence all they would need to do is put a police officer on duty on foot in the park. But that would make too much sense.