Understand how armed, volatile, family confrontations lead to arrests and felony charges in outer East Portland …
Police cruisers line the driveway as officers respond to a large “domestic disturbance” at an outer East Portland apartment complex.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Two separate domestic violence incidents in outer East Portland – one at a Hazelwood apartment complex, and another in Wilkes – brought out a large Portland Police Bureau (PPB) response, including crisis-trained officers, K9 teams, and the Major Crimes-focused resources that handle volatile armed situations.
In both cases, officers worked for extended periods to safely detain suspects and remove injured or threatened family members from harm.
Here’s how the two incidents unfolded.
Friday, July 10 – 5:44 p.m.
Knife, mental health concerns, prompt major response in Hazelwood
In the Hazelwood apartment lot, a PPB Focused Intervention Team officer wearing a red ECIT sash, and another officer carrying a shield, move between parked vehicles at the Hazelwood apartment complex.
On Friday afternoon, July 10 at 5:44 p.m., dispatchers coded a call as a “Police – Disturbance – Priority” and sent PPB East Precinct officers to the 1000 block of NE 102nd Avenue. The incident unfolded at the Villa D’Shirl Lee Apartments.
Marked and unmarked police cruisers lined the northbound side of NE 102nd Avenue, with roughly a dozen vehicles – including a K9 team, and officers from the Bureau’s Drone Squad – gathered around the complex. Several officers took positions in the parking lot, and at least one officer wearing a red ECIT sash – denoting Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team training – joined the response.
On the walkway outside an apartment, officers talk with a person, as they sort out what led to the call.
PPB Public Information Officer Terri Wallo Strauss told East Portland News that officers originally came to the complex after a caller was “yelling erratically”. Responding officers determined the disturbance grew out of a confrontation between family members, and that one of them had been armed with a knife.
According to Wallo Strauss, officers eventually had to breach doors in order to take the suspect into custody. She reported that the call required a large number of officers because they believed the suspect might be experiencing mental health issues while armed with the knife.
With the suspect in custody, officers stand down and wait in the parking lot for a debrief.
Officers arrested 36-year-old Devin Thorsson Willson. Records show Willson was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 8:09 p.m. on July 10, 2026 on charges of Menacing – Domestic Violence (a Class A misdemeanor), Kidnap I – DV (Class A felony), and Coercion – DV (Class C felony).
Court records indicate that, despite facing two felony counts and one misdemeanor, Willson was released from custody without bail on July 13, 2026, under a “Court Ordered Release”.
If you have information, and haven’t yet spoken with investigators about this incident, use the PPB Contact Page and refer to Case No. 26-200392.
Sunday, July 12 – [Dispatch time not released]
Two family members hurt in Wilkes stabbing; suspect surrenders
Patrol cars line NE Sandy Boulevard as additional officers go into the complex to reach the stabbing scene.
On Sunday, July 12, North Precinct officers were dispatched to the 6000 block of NE Sandy Boulevard in the Wilkes neighborhood, after reports that a woman had been stabbed by a family member at the Aspire Columbia Ridge Apartments.
When officers arrived, they worked to safely remove the injured woman and additional family members from the apartment.
An ambulance, back doors open, stands ready to take the stabbing victim to a hospital.
PPB reported that the victim was sent to a local hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries.
A second family member also sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
This officer retrieves gear from the back of his patrol car to continue working on the domestic violence call.
Officers surrounded the residence and used loudspeaker announcements in an effort to reach the suspect. After a period of negotiations and containment, the suspect voluntarily exited the apartment and was taken into custody without further injury.
Officers arrested 30-year-old Jonathan Andrew Pete on multiple domestic violence-related assault and weapons charges. Booking records show Pete was lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 1:30 p.m. on July 12, 2026 on charges of Assault I – Domestic Violence, Menacing – Domestic Violence (two counts), Attempted Assault II – Domestic Violence, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (two counts), and additional warrants.
Pete remains in custody at Multnomah County Inverness Jail in lieu of bail, which includes a $10,000 hold on a Trespass II (Class C misdemeanor) charge, and a $2,500 County Hold, with all matters listed as “unsentenced”.
Support is available for families living with domestic violence
Across these two outer East Portland incidents, officers confronted armed domestic crises in tight apartment settings, working to move family members out of danger while taking suspects into custody. As the cases move into court, those families and their neighbors are left dealing with violence that began behind closed doors.
Domestic violence is one of the most frequent and serious violent crimes police investigate. If you or someone you care about is experiencing abuse, or you’re concerned it may be an issue at home, help is available.
Call to Safety offers advocacy, confidential peer support, and referrals to community resources. Their 24-hour crisis line is 503-235-5333, or toll-free at 1-888-235-5333.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
