By Steve Neavling

A confused family found themselves in the wrong Portland after a travel agent booked them a flight to the wrong city.  

Instead of flying to Portland, Maine, the family of three landed 3,000 miles away in Portland, Oregon. 

That’s when TSA Officer Martin Rio came to the rescue. Asked to interpret for the Spanish-speaking travelers at a checkpoint, Rios figured out what had happened. 

“Martin is always quick to help out his team members,” Supervisory TSA officer Kaitlyn Arnold said in a news release. “He has a very positive attitude and is always smiling. I know I can always count on Martin to be dedicated to the mission.”

The confused and disheartened family spent the night in a terminal. Rios walked the family to the ticket counter and helped them buy the correct tickets. 

But the family was low on finances, so Rios dug into his pocket and covered the travel expenses. 

“[Rios] is a go getter and the fact that he chose to support these passengers in their time of need was no surprise to both his team and our leadership,” Senior TSA Manager Jeremy Alanis said. “Martin is, and has been since day one, a shining example of what it means to be a team player. [He’s] the kind of officer and person any airport in the country would be proud to have as a member of their team.”

Rios was awarded the PDX’s Make the Connection Quarterly Award for his actions. 

By Steve Neavling

A convicted felon from Oregon was arrested after authorities say he stole a rifle, pistol, ammunition and body armor from an FBI agent’s government car and then tried to sell the rifle to undercover investigators in exchange for cash and two pistols. 

Michael Stuart Francher, 29, is accused of making multiple trips to steal the items from the agent’s car, which was parked outside the agent’s Lane County home, on Jan. 11, according to court records reviewed by The Oregonian.  

After several weeks, Francher met with undercover investigators in a hotel room in Eugene to swap the rifle for $3,000 and two pistols, the ATF said. During the meeting, he told investigators he had stolen the rifle and that it had belonged to law enforcement, according to the ATF.  

After the swap, Francher was leaving the hotel when he tripped and fell after spotting officers, who then arrested him. 

While searching Francher’s car, police also found about a half-pound of meth and the agent’s ballistic vest and body armor. 

Francher has been charged with theft of government property and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was ordered to remain jailed pending a trial. 

In 2018, Francher was convicted of theft, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, possession of meth and criminal trespass. In 2017, he was convicted of burglary and reckless burning.