Eugene Man Arrested for Two Armed Robberies at Same Deli

Eugene police arrested Solomon Everisto Lehi, 43, as he walked out of his West 11th Avenue workplace at approximately 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, charging him with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of first-degree aggravated theft for holdups at Sandy's Deli, 4925 Barger Drive, that occurred four months apart.

The pattern of targeting at the Barger Drive storefront is now well-established. The most recent robbery took place March 15, 2026, at about 8:50 a.m. A single EPD detective assigned to that case connected it to an earlier robbery at the same deli in December 2025 and identified Lehi as the suspect in both. K9 units from Eugene PD and the Lane County Sheriff's Office combed the area after the March 15 incident, a sign of early investigative commitment to the case.

Both recent incidents extend a pattern at Sandy's Deli that dates to August 2022, when a robber entered at approximately 7:31 a.m., fired a shot inside the business, and fled with cash. No one was injured. A suspect identified as Lindsay was later investigated in connection with that robbery and three other Eugene business holdups. The consistency across incidents is notable: all three known robberies at the deli struck during morning hours, when staffing is typically lean and customer foot traffic is sparse.

That timing is not incidental. Small businesses with predictable early-morning routines and limited street visibility present lower risk of interruption for would-be robbers. For businesses along Barger Drive, two practical low-cost safeguards stand out: camera systems positioned to capture both interior activity and the parking area with footage retained long enough for detectives to review after a crime is reported, and a varied opening routine that avoids advertising a fixed arrival time. EPD noted that physical evidence, surveillance footage, and witness interviews were central to connecting the December 2025 and March 2026 robberies to a single suspect, meaning cameras that record at sufficient resolution and cover entry points directly accelerate that process.

After building the case, detectives coordinated with EPD's SWAT team for a controlled arrest. Lehi attempted to flee as officers moved in Wednesday night but was taken into custody without reported injuries. A search warrant served at a Maxwell Road residence recovered two firearms linked to the investigation.

The legal stakes are significant. First-degree robbery in Oregon is a Class A felony under ORS 164.415, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $375,000. It is also a Measure 11 offense under ORS 137.700, the mandatory sentencing law voters passed in 1994, which sets a mandatory minimum of 90 months (7.5 years) in state prison with no eligibility for early release. Two robbery counts means Lehi's combined minimum exposure, if convicted on both, reaches 180 months. The Lane County District Attorney's Office will determine whether to pursue additional charges or enhancements.

Anyone with information about either Sandy's Deli robbery can contact EPD's Robbery Unit or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers.