See something; say something. It’s not just advice for air travel anymore. Just this week, a Canby woman was recognized by local police for her assistance in helping thwart an attempted theft at a local business that she noticed while driving home from work late one night.
Just before midnight March 19, Jessica Mercado was on her way through downtown, when she noticed someone behaving suspiciously near displayed merchandise outside Retro Revival, a seller of vintage furniture, clothing, art and home goods located on Grant Street near Wait Park.
“Ms. Mercado felt compelled to go around the block and drove by again to see if the woman was committing a crime,” Canby Police Capt. Jose Gonzalez told The Canby Current. “Ms. Mercado then saw the woman attempting to hide from her.”
Mercado called the police to report what she had seen. Sgt. James Murphy, Officer Kyle Doman and Officer Allen Miller responded to the scene to investigate — and discovered several stolen items inside the suspect’s vehicle.
The suspect was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance and second-degree theft.
Canby Police Chief Bret Smith wrote a note to thank Mercado for her attentiveness and presence of mind, which Gonzalez, Doman and Miller recently presented to her along with a challenge coin in appreciation of her service to the community.
Said Gonzalez: “Her extra vigilance and effort to contact authorities saved a small local business from losing hundreds of dollars in merchandise and stopped a dangerously impaired driver from leaving the scene.”
