The Portland Police Bureau said it had a busy Memorial Day weekend, responding to emergencies like shootings and crashes, and also getting guns off the streets while making "significant arrests."
In total, Portland officers made 17 arrests and seized 13 weapons.
On Tuesday, the bureau released information on a handful of those crime and emergency calls in the hopes of shedding light on how busy things were for its officers, sergeants, detectives, and criminalists.
They also included case numbers for many of the incidents, asking anyone who may have helpful information to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov.
"Certainly with the better weather people seem to be out causing more trouble than usual," one Portland resident, Allen Smith, told KATU. He was shopping near where a 16-year-old girl was stabbed in broad daylight on Friday.
When asked what he feels should be done, Smith said, "It's a complicated question and I think the answer is just as complicated. Obviously, there needs to be consequences for bad behavior."
Hillary Phillips lives downtown near Southwest 3rd and Salmon Street, where a robbery and stabbing happened over the weekend.
"It definitely is a constant concern but given that I live downtown, I’m probably also a little jaded.," said Phillips. "I don’t walk alone at night or anything. I try to be aware of my surroundings."
Portland Police did not return KATU's requests for interviews, and we are waiting for a response to the violent weekend two weeks ago.
THURSDAY, MAY 25
At 4:21p.m, North Precinct officers responded to a report of someone shot at North Interstate Avenue and North Jessup Street. A 16-year-old male victim was seriously injured by gunfire and taken to a local hospital for treatment. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The suspect or suspects left the scene and no immediate arrests were made. The Enhanced Community Safety Team responded to the scene (along with North patrol and the Focused Intervention Team) and ECST is actively investigating. Case number 23-136969.
At 4:47p.m, North Precinct officers responded to a call involving a 3 vehicle crash on the St. John’s Bridge. The suspect vehicle, a blue 2006 Kia Rio 4-door sedan, impacted the back of a white 2019 Nissan Kicks SUV, which pushed that vehicle into a gray 2019 Toyota Tacoma pickup. The suspect driver drove off, but his vehicle caught fire due to the damage caused by the crash. He drove over 4 miles with his car burning but was forced to stop at Northwest 29th Avenue and Northwest Yeon Avenue. The first arriving officer saw the suspect trying to walk away. He lost sight of him around a corner, but a search with the help of witnesses led them to locate and arrest the suspect near a business in the 3300 block of Northwest Yeon Avenue. A Traffic Division officer evaluated the suspect for DUII. Andrew Jay Johnson, 22, of Vancouver, Washington, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (alcohol), Reckless Driving, and 2 counts of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (property damage).
At 7:53p.m., members of the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) responded to the area of Northeast 13th Avenue and Northeast Dekum Street on a disturbance with a gun call. Officers arrived in the area and observed an active fight at the intersection. Officers saw a woman throw a gun, a Glock 9mm with an extended magazine, underneath a car. Officers detained the three individuals involved and seized the gun. The investigation revealed that a victim was menaced with the firearm. Alejandro Guillermo Ramirez, 24, of Portland, was booked into MCDC on Menacing with a Firearm, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). Case number 23-137137
At 8:42p.m., members of FIT stopped a Ford Fusion at Northeast Killingsworth Street and Northeast Mallory Avenue for a traffic violation. The officers contacted the 4 occupants inside the vehicle. During the investigation, officers located and seized 2 illegally possessed handguns, both of which were loaded. Three men were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC). Nuradin J. Hassan, 20, of Portland, and Isidro V. Aispuro, 25, were both charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). K’Shawn D. Harris, 25, of Portland, booked on a felony Robbery in the Second Degree warrant. Case number 23-137177
FRIDAY, MAY 26
At 1:55p.m., East Precinct officers responded to someone shot outside a grocery store at Southeast 79th Avenue and Southeast Powell Boulevard. When they arrived they found a 17-year-old girl injured. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening. Officers located a likely crime scene on Southeast 75th Avenue north of Southeast Holgate Boulevard. ECST responded to the scene to investigate. No immediate arrests were made. Case number 23-137836.
At 4:38p.m., FIT officers stopped a car at Northeast 14th Avenue and Northeast Shaver Street after recognizing the driver had an Assault 2 warrant out of Washington. Three firearms were found in the vehicle. The driver, Craig Damon Williams, Jr, 22, of Portland, was arrested and booked into MCDC for the warrant, Unlawful Possession of Firearms (concealed) and Unlawful Possession of Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). A passenger, Melvin Aubrey, Jr, 18, of Gresham, Oregon, was booked for Unlawful Possession of Firearms (concealed) and Unlawful Possession of Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). Case number 23-137996
At 7:30p.m., FIT officers tried to stop a vehicle in the area of Southeast 86th Court and Southeast Ellis Street. The vehicle began driving erratically after seeing police vehicles. The vehicle eluded and occupants ran from the vehicle. One passenger running away dropped a loaded handgun, which was seized as evidence. No immediate arrests were made, but the investigation is ongoing. Case number 23-138155
At 7:45p.m, a North Precinct officer spotted a suspicious vehicle (suspected stolen) parked on the shoulder of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard just south of Northeast Schmeer Road. When the officer went to investigate, a suspect ran away, stripped down to his underwear, and jumped into the Columbia River Slough trying to get away. After a fair amount of communication with him, the suspect finally swam back to shore and was arrested. Officers were not immediately able to determine if the car was actually stolen. The investigation is continuing. Alexander K. Beidler, 31, was booked into MCDC on multiple warrants. He was also charged with Escape in the Third Degree. Case number 23-138168
At 9:05p.m., FIT officers saw a vehicle on Southeast 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street that had eluded police recently. The vehicle exited the lot and began driving quickly through residential neighborhoods. Officers attempted to stop it, but again, the driver eluded police. The driver parked at a dead end in the area of Southeast 117th Avenue and Southeast Yamhill Street and ran on foot. She was surrounded and arrested. Two loaded firearms were recovered from the vehicle. River M Agrelius, 24, was booked into MCDC on charges of Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (C Felony), Attempt to Elude Police on foot (A misdemeanor), Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). Case number 23-138242
At 10:46p.m., an East Precinct officer saw a blue 2005 Toyota Corolla sedan going eastbound on Southeast Stark Street at Southeast 122nd Avenue. The officer developed probable cause to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the Toyota preemptively began eluding the officer. When the officer activated his emergency police lights, the driver refused to stop. Due to policy restrictions, the officer did not pursue and turned off his emergency lights. Officers in the Air Support Unit and on the ground observed the driver of the Toyota driving in an extraordinarily reckless fashion for approximately the next 29 minutes, despite no officers chasing him. The driver was speeding nearly triple the speed limit, ran numerous red lights and stops signs, drove in oncoming travel lanes, forced other vehicles to swerve to avoid crashes, including a near-miss of two motorcyclists that likely would have been fatal. Officers used spike strips to deflate the Toyota’s tires so the rubber was torn off and the vehicle was running on rims. The driver traveled through Portland, Gresham, unincorporated Multnomah County, and various areas of Clackamas County, ultimately turning into a hay field in 11700 block of Southeast 282nd Avenue in Boring, Oregon. The driver then jumped out and tried to hide in the tall grass. Officers and Deputies tracked him and arrested him. Shawn A. Camp, 38, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (C Felony), Attempt to Elude Police on foot (A misdemeanor), Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and a felony parole warrant issued by the State of Oregon. PPB is grateful for the invaluable assistance of the Gresham Police Department, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office, and Oregon State Police. Case number 23-138342
SATURDAY, MAY 27
At 2:15a.m, Cowlitz County law enforcement was pursuing a wanted suspect in a white 1998 Dodge Ram into Oregon and requested PPB’s help. Central Precinct, the Focused Intervention Team, and the Air Support Unit assisted and tracked the driver from a distance. PPB units did not pursue. The driver parked the truck and took off on foot in the area of South Bond Avenue and South Meade Street. K9 and OHSU Police also assisted with containment. Officers arrested the suspect, Zachary R. Benson, 37, of Kelso, Washington. He was booked on his warrant out of Cowlitz County and local charges of Reckless Driving and Attempt to Elude Police by vehicle. Case number 23-138523
At 2:54a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a report of a wrong way driver on Interstate-5 freeway. The driver was reported to be driving northbound in the southbound lanes. A moment later officers learned that the driver caused a crash with another vehicle at the Southwest Capitol Highway southbound on ramp. Andres C. Qunitero, 21, of Canby, Oregon, was issued a criminal citation for ORS 813.010 Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants-Alcohol and Reckless Driving. The other driver was not seriously hurt.
At 12:11a.m., East Precinct officers responded to a report that a suspect had menaced employees with a firearm at a fast-food restaurant drive through in the 9100 block of Southeast Powell Boulevard. Officers arrived and challenged the suspect in a 2015 white Audi Q5 SUV with no license plates. The driver reversed out of the parking lot and eluded officers. The employees did not want to pursue charges against the suspect and the vehicle was allowed to flee due to dissipating probable cause. (23-138430) At 3:25a.m. Central Precinct officers responded to a report of the white Audi with no plates stopped at Northeast 12th Avenue and Northeast Flanders Street blocking the intersection. The driver was slumped over, unconscious. Officers could see from the outside that there was a gun in the car. Due to the additional potential danger of the firearm, officers tried to call to him from a distance. He was not very responsive but finally woke up and tried to drive away. Officers were able to deflate a tire with spike strips, but he continued driving away in a reckless manner. With only reasonable suspicion of DUI, the vehicle was allowed to flee because the benefit of capture did not outweigh the risks. Case number 23-138562
Moments later, Central Precinct officers spotted the Audi as it pulled into a parking garage in the 1100 block of Northeast Lloyd Boulevard. The driver stopped in a parking spot and seemed to have slumped again. Again, knowing the suspect was armed, tactical and safety plans were made, resources were gathered, and exits were covered with spikes to again attempt custody. The vehicle was loud hailed, and the driver again fled the area at a high rate of speed; not before hitting one of the spike strips. The vehicle was located again, driving at high speed near Northeast Grand Avenue and Northeast Broadway Street. But again, due to policy and public safety concerns, the vehicle was not pursued, and was lost in the blocks. At about 6:43a.m., North Precinct officers responded to the 2100 block of Northeast Wasco Street of a driver moaning and rolling around inside of his vehicle. The front driver tire was completely gone, and the rim was destroyed. Again, the suspect refused to comply with officers, and drove off, hitting pre-deployed spike strips and deflated his remaining three tires. He eluded eastbound Wasco Street without anyone pursuing. The driver then crossed barricaded sidewalks and recklessly drove into a parking lot at Northeast 28th Avenue.
It was approximately 7:30a.m. and there were many people walking dogs, jogging, and enjoying the morning. The suspect then drove northbound on Northeast 32nd Avenue with no tires left on his vehicle. The suspect then drove over the barricaded sidewalk at Northeast 32nd Avenue and Northeast Schuyler Street, then through a yard where four children were on the front porch. The driver was struggling to gain traction as he was attempting to drive away through the neighborhood, which put the community at more of a risk of death or serious physical injury due to the time of day. When officers challenged him, he got behind the wheel and tried to elude again, officers used their vehicles to box in the suspect vehicle. Officers challenged him from a safe distance in an effort to lessen the risk of injury and use of force. The suspect then jumped out and ran off on foot. Officers caught up with and arrested him at Northeast 32nd Avenue and Northeast Hancock Street. Officers were unable to identify him at the scene, so he was booked under the name Colton Hobbs (which was a false name he provided) on charges of Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (3 counts), Attempt to Elude Police on foot, Reckless Driving (3 counts), Reckless Endangering Another Person, and Failure to Carry and Present Driver’s License. At jail, his fingerprints were scanned and he was identified as Dylan Jordan Savage, 29. Savage has outstanding felony warrants out of Tennessee. Case number 23-138645
On Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 4:30a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to the intersection of Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street on a welfare check of someone passed out at the wheel of a running vehicle. Officers found a silver 2014 Volkswagen Passat sedan with three people inside, all unconscious. Officers could see firearms in the vehicle. Due to the significant danger presented by the firearms accessible to the occupants, officers backed away to cover and called the occupants out from a safe distance. It took a great deal of time and effort to wake them up, so it involved a lot of resources. Eventually officers used their vehicles to box in the suspect vehicle. All three woke up and were arrested. Three illegally possessed guns were seized. All three were booked. Aronte Y. Kerney, 48, of Eugene, Oregon, was booked for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Jonathan Jay Jones, 18, of Vancouver, Washington, was booked for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The third, believed to be a juvenile, was booked as “John Doe” into the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility under the charge of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Case number 23-138594
At 12:53p.m., North Precinct officers responded to the 6800 Block of North Fessenden Street on a report of a robbery. A suspect robbed a convenience store after displaying a knife to the employee who tried to stop him from stealing an item. Officers located the suspect walking away and stopped him. They identified him and determined he had warrants for his arrest. He threatened to fight them and then ran off. Officers set up containment, then located and arrested the suspect. Johnathon S. Staples, 40, was booked into MCDC on two warrants. He was not charged for the robbery due to lack of victim participation. Case number 23-138875
At 6:56p.m. FIT officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 8500 block of Northeast Milton Street. The vehicle was uninsured. Officers began the process of towing the vehicle and discovered a firearm inside. Jorge Escalera-Delgado, 46, of Vancouver, Washington, was arrested and booked into MCDC for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code). Case number 23-139171
Just before 9:30 p.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to the intersection of Northeast Killingsworth Street and Northeast 48th Avenue to conduct a welfare check on a man slumped over in a running car. Officers conducted a box-in in case the person was startled awake and the car lurched forward causing a crash. A box-in is when two officers place the bumper of their car touching a vehicles front and back bumpers. When officers attempted to rouse they driver, they noticed the magazine portion of a handgun in the subjects waistband. Officers backed away at called to the subject from a safe distance using a police car public-address system. He woke up, listened to officers’ commands, and was detained. In addition to the handgun on the suspect, officers located an additional two rifles, two shotguns. 28-year-old Devante J. Zimmerly was charged with Unlawful Possession of Machine Guns, Certain Short-Barreled Firearms and Firearm Silences (3 Counts) and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (4 Counts).
At 11:55p.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a crash near North Marine Drive and North Bybee Lakes Road. When they arrived they found a vehicle crashed into a tree. Both male occupants were transported to the hospital with serious injuries, one of which is life threatening. Due to the level of injury, the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team responded to the scene to investigate. Initial investigation revealed that the crash was speed racing related.
SUNDAY, MAY 28
At 1:09a.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a crash at Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 139th Avenue. When officers arrived they found a motorcycle operator deceased at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle was seriously injured and transported to the hospital by ambulance.
At 2:40 a.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to the 200 Block of Southeast 160th Avenue on the reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find a 16-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his leg. They retrieved their Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) and applied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg, and he was later treated at a local hospital. The shooting originated from a vehicle that had immediately left the scene. Nobody is in custody. ECST is actively investigating. Case number 23-139522
At 8:13 p.m., Central Precinct officers were dispatched to the intersection of Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Salmon Street on the report of a stabbing. Officers arrived on scene to find a stabbing victim who was suffering from a non-life-threatening cut to the leg. The victim received treatment by EMS and decided to drive himself to the hospital for additional help if needed. Officers found the suspect and detained him. At least one witness indicated that the victim was the aggressor in this incident, so Major Crimes Unit detectives responded to interview the suspect and conduct follow-up. The suspect was interviewed and released pending further investigation. No one has been charged at this point. Case number 23-140145
Just after 9:00 p.m., North Precinct officers responded to a shooting in the 11700 block of Northeast Airport Way. While officers were still enroute they received an update from dispatch that a subject had been shot. Knowing this, the first officer on scene brought his IFAK with him to the scene. He found one victim with a gunshot wound to the leg. The officer began emergency medical treatment by applying a tourniquet. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. The subject was alert and talking when he left in the ambulance. The suspect(s) had left the scene before officers were called. Nobody is in custody. ECST and FIT responded to the scene and assumed control of the investigation. ECST is actively investigating. Case number 23-140176
MONDAY, MAY 29
At 4:02a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to the report of someone breaking several windows to a building in this block. They arrived to find the subject described standing in front of the building. 20-year-old Evan Hunt was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. Hunt was booked into MCDC. Case number 23-140449
Just after 10:26 p.m. on Monday, May 29th, officers from North Precinct responded to a crash at the intersection of Northeast Columbia Boulevard and Northeast Cully Boulevard involving a motorcycle and a car. The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Due to the level of injury involved, the Major Crash Team was activated for the third time of the holiday weekend. Based on their preliminary investigation, they determined speed and alcohol influenced the motorcyclist’s driving ability.