Teen robbed at knifepoint, officer injured

ROSEBURG, Ore. — A Roseburg man is in the Douglas County Jail on $50,000 bail following two separate incidents last week that included a reported robbery and a later confrontation with police.

According to court documents, 41-year-old Raul Yanz Rosario, formerly of Eugene, is accused of robbing a 19-year-old man of his wallet late Wednesday night near West Harvard Avenue. Two days later, Rosario allegedly resisted arrest during an encounter with Roseburg Police, during which an officer was injured.

Police said the robbery occurred around 10:44 p.m. Wednesday outside a business across from Fir Grove Park. The victim told officers he was threatened by a man holding a sharp object resembling a box cutter or piece of metal. After surrendering his wallet, the victim said the suspect fled into the park near Umpqua Valley Arts.

An initial suspect was questioned near the Stewart Park bridge shortly after the robbery but released after police found no evidence linking him to the crime. Investigators later obtained surveillance video from the nearby business that reportedly identified Rosario as the suspect.

On Friday morning, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person near Umpqua Valley Arts in Fir Grove Park and located Rosario, who they said was wearing the same clothing seen in the surveillance footage. Police reported that Rosario was holding a brick and initially followed commands to drop it, but then picked it up again after arguing with the officer.

The encounter took place near the entrance to Fir Grove Elementary School. Officers used a Taser to subdue Rosario after a brief struggle. During the arrest, one officer sustained a hand injury that may require surgery, according to court records.

Rosario was arrested on charges of first-degree robbery, third-degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, assaulting a public safety officer, and three counts of menacing. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office later dismissed the menacing and unlawful weapon charges and added a count of fourth-degree assault related to the injured officer.

Rosario was arraigned Monday in Douglas County Circuit Court and remains in custody on $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court again Friday.

Court documents describe the first-degree robbery charge as using or threatening the use of a dangerous weapon during a theft, a Class A felony in Oregon that carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years and six months.