Aloha armed burglary suspect captured in creek

ALOHA, Ore. (KOIN) — A manhunt for an armed burglary suspect prompted 3 Aloha schools to lock their doors while police searched for hours before capturing him in neck-deep water in a creek.

Vincent Danielson was found in a creek up to his neck at 209th and Parker Court, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Ray told KOIN 6 News.

Even before the manhunt began in the area of Pike and 200th Place in Aloha, deputies had been looking for Danielson.

Investigators believe he’s responsible for at least a dozen home break-ins throughout the Portland metro area, stealing at least 6 cars to commit those crimes.

“He has a felony warrant already for his arrest,” Ray said. “We believe he is responsible during those burglaries for stealing at least 15 firearms.”

Around 10 a.m. , a homeowner in the 7800 block of Miller Hill told KOIN 6 News he was in bed when a man wearing a stocking over his face entered the room. The homeowner screamed at the suspect, who then took off.

Deputies responded and spotted the suspect — identified as Danielson — in a green pickup truck that had been reported stolen Monday.

The police presence prompted Butternut Creek Elementary to lock down, while Aloha High School and Kinnaman Elementary went into a lock out over the situation.

A low speed pursuit followed before Danielson allegedly ditched the pickup in an Aloha driveway and began running.

The woman at that house, Rosa Aragaon, was home with her daughter. She had no idea who he was and spotted the truck when she took out the trash.

“I went to throw some garbage and I was, ‘Oh, what’s this truck over here?’ And I just looked and the police are sitting over there,” she said. “He comes to us and says you have to stay inside because…they’re chasing somebody.”

Another neighbor, Dina, heard all the sirens and called her husband. She told KOIN 6 News she “saw a shadow out the window and I thought, ‘What is that?’ And I’m talking to my husband and I look out the kitchen window and there’s a guy down at our back door trying to get through our doggie door.”

Danielson once again ran and police believe he threw a backpack onto the roof of a nearby house.

“Inside the backpack was evidence of a burglary that we believe he’s responsible for,” Ray said. “He’s just trying to get rid of the evidence.”

Deputies searching the neighborhood also found a handgun in a backyard, also believed to be connected to Danielson.

A K-9 was used to search for Danielson, and he was caught about 5 hours after the initial incident report.

Danielson was spotted in a creek at 209th and Parker Court up to his neck. A deputy went into the creek to get him and took him into custody just after 3 p.m.

Ray described Danielson as “a very dangerous person person” they wanted “very badly to take into custody.”