In March 2024, community members came forward to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) with allegations of criminal behavior associated with a market across the street from Dawson Park. As a result, PPB’s North Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), in collaboration with PPB’s Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) and Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (NOC), launched what turned out to be a year-long investigation into the Stop N Go Mini Mart located at 2858 North Williams Avenue.
On Monday, March 3, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the convenience store. Detectives seized cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, two firearms (one stolen), multiple replica guns, and $6,600 in cash. In addition, detectives seized numerous digital scales covered in suspected drug residue and a box of razor blades believed to be used for cutting narcotics.
Shortly before the execution of the search warrant, the Stop N Go owner, Donald Sharma, 43, of Beaverton, was arrested during a traffic stop in the area of North Cook Street and North Gantenbein Avenue. Sharma was transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center and lodged on numerous drug charges.
Detectives believe the trafficking of drugs in and out of the store has been a contributing factor to the open-air drug market at Dawson Park, as well as the gun violence in the area. Moreover, investigators are confident this case will have a positive impact on the Eliot Neighborhood and the greater community.
PPB Chief Bob Day, along with city and community leaders, discussed the case at a news conference at Dawson Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxvrIeX6gA
Anyone with information about this case, who has not yet talked with police, is asked to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 25-680063.
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