A man who claimed he was homeless and living in a tent by a cemetery was arrested after allegedly selling a stolen bike he advertised on Craigslist to an undercover Portland police officer.
Dameion Phillips, 30, told police after he was arrested last Thursday that he bought the Torker bike for $50 nearly a week earlier and that his girlfriend had posted the online ad, a probable cause affidavit said.
The bike’s owner filed a police report last Wednesday claiming his bike was stolen sometime the day before and he found it listed for sale on Craigslist, the affidavit said.
A police officer, posing as a prospective buyer, contacted Phillips by calling a number listed in the ad and asked about the Torker bike. There were five other bikes listed for sale under Phillips’ number, according to the affidavit.
Phillips told the undercover officer that he bought the bike a year ago from his brother and they agreed to meet, the affidavit said. The bike was listed for $120.
Phillips rode the bike to his meeting with the officer last Thursday and he then claimed he bought the bike a year ago from his cousin for $150, the affidavit said. Phillips was given $120 by the officer for the bike, but then crouched down behind a nearby bush when he noticed a police car approaching them.
“I’m hiding,” Phillips told the undercover officer. “They don’t like me very much.”
Phillips was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree theft and computer crime.
— Everton Bailey Jr.
ebailey@oregonian.com
503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey