Disorderly man with a knife taken into custody for Robbery, Unlawful Use Weapon

At 3:11 a.m. on April 1, while a group of Eugene Police officers were tied up responding to an armed suicidal subject call in another part of town, another unrelated call came in about a man with a knife acting disorderly at the 7-Eleven, 1107 S. Bertelsen Road.

Several officers were dispatched despite the limited staffing and when they arrived at 7-Eleven, they spotted a man matching the suspect's description sitting in front. He was reported to have gone into the store, asked about a lighter and when an employee showed him one, he walked out without paying for it. When the employee challenged him, the suspect, Matthew Anthony Marks, age 43, threatened to kill the employee and pointed a knife at him.

The responding officers kept a distance away from Marks due to the information about his having a knife, gave him commands, and advised him he was under arrest. Marks covered himself with a blanket. Additional officers responded to assist with less lethal options. Officers used a heavy dose of patience and gave Marks admonishments regarding the use of less lethal equipment but Marks refused to comply and the deployment did not meet with success. It took a team of officers moving in to remove the blanket, and a brief struggle, to get Marks into custody. Marks was armed with the knife in his hand at this time.

Marks was lodged at Lane County Jail on charges including Robbery in the First Degree, Unlawful Use Weapon, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct. 25-05148