Eugene Police Help Capture Florida Fugitive Tied to Armed Robbery at Local Nightclub

EUGENE, Ore. — The Eugene Police Department was instrumental in assisting Florida law enforcement officers in arresting a fugitive living in Oregon’s Lane County.

Forty-seven-year-old Steven Charles Whitney was also a suspect in an armed robbery at the Cowfish Dance Club & Cafe in Eugene in June, earlier this year.

EPD Officer Discovered That Suspect Was Involved in an Armed Robbery in Eugene

After receiving a request for assistance to locate Whitney, a Eugene Police Department detective began investigating and discovered the suspect’s involvement in the armed robbery at the popular local nightclub.

The team of investigators pinpointed an address in the 2500 block of Justine Lane as the address of the fugitive and, on October 22, served a search warrant on the residence and vehicles.

A search of the residence uncovered three firearms, 15 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin (magic) mushrooms, a number of fictitious identities, and drug packaging materials.

Eugene SWAT Team Deployed to Arrest Suspect

Members of the Eugene Police SWAT team were deployed because of Whitney’s history of violence and eluding the police, and was taken into custody on October 23.

Whitney was transported to the Lane County Jail and charged with a fugitive from justice, possession/manufacturing/delivery of a Schedule 1 controlled substance (12 grams of psilocybin), first-degree robbery, identity theft, unlawful delivery of marijuana, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of marijuana, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The Cowfish Dance Club & Cafe armed robbery occurred on the night of June 20, 2025, when a security officer contacted the Eugene Police Department after observing Whitney in the company of two suspected underage females.

The security officer stopped the trio from entering the bar and confiscated one of the females’ identity cards, which appeared to be fake. Whitney threatened the security officer as the trio converged on him. The security officer said Whitney was armed with a gun, forcing him to pull a knife in self-defense.