Transient man accused in 7-Eleven robbery appears in court

A man accused of robbing a 7-Eleven store in Hazel Dell last week made a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Monday.

Christian S. Hazen, 18, a transient, faces an allegation of first-degree robbery stemming from the Friday incident at 12908 N.E. Highway 99.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court, police were called to a strong-arm robbery shortly after 3:30 a.m. at the store. The clerk, Jeremy Harbert, reported that a man dressed in dark pants and a gray sweatshirt with dark sleeves grabbed some cigarettes and candy. Harbert said he fought with the man, who also was described as having a short ponytail and scruffy beard. The suspect, however, told Harbert he was armed with a knife.

The suspect reportedly fled the store but left behind a state services card with the name Christian Hazen on it, court records said.

A Clark County sheriff’s deputy later contacted a man matching the suspect’s description in front of 10804 N.E. Highway 99. The man had a knife clipped to the chest strap of his backpack and identified himself as Hazen. He denied being at the 7-Eleven, the affidavit says.

Hazen was taken into custody, and his backpack was searched. Police found three packs of unopened Marlboro cigarettes and a gray sweatshirt with black sleeves, court documents said.

Harbert saw Hazen in the back of a patrol vehicle and confirmed he was the one who robbed the store, according to the affidavit.

During Hazen’s hearing on Monday, Judge Daniel Stahnke appointed Vancouver attorney Bob Yoseph to represent him.

His bail was set at $30,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 19.