He’ll never get his beloved Chevy El Camino back, but see how the East Portland CRU helped him recover his engine and parts, in these exclusive photos‚

While Caleb Wood still isn’t going to be driving his El Camino back to Idaho, at least he can take his customized engine and accessories home.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
34-year-old Caleb Wood says he’s sad, and a little angry, that he won’t be driving his classic, 1972 Chevrolet El Camino back home to Idaho.

Wood says he learned today that cut-up car parts resembling those of his El Camino were loaded on a scrap truck and hauled away a couple of days ago. But, at least, he’ll go home with his engine.

Wood had to partially disassemble the engine to be able to remove it from the garage from which it was being sold.

Stolen off the street
“I came to Portland a few weeks ago to go to car shows, and do a cruise-in or two with my buddy,” Wood recounts. “I was heading home the morning of June 4, but we woke up to find my car was gone. It was stolen off the street.”

Wood says friends encouraged him to peruse Craig’s List and E-Bay looking for parts from his missing car. “Everyone told me, because the car was a classic car, they’d part it out. I started checking.”

Finds June 28 ‘Craig’s List’ ad
Weeks of checking the web-based sales sites turned up nothing‚ until Wood came across this June 28 listing. Wood confirmed the Craig’s List ad that follows is the one that caught his attention:

———–

Reply to: sale-361914213@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-06-27, 8:29PM PDT
chevy motor 350+ – $800
polished edelbrock intake holly 650 carb polished hooker headers and turbo 400 tranny all one package $800 obo call laura or jason at 503-760-[withheld].

Location: se portand

it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 361914213

————-

“My car has a Chevy 350 engine; nothing special, they made thousands of them. It’s all the stuff I added to it makes it special, like the custom intake and headers. I knew this had to be my engine they were selling.”

Doing some detective work, Wood calls the number listed in the ad, and agrees to meet a man who calls himself Jason Rickerd, at the house at 2115 Southeast 112th Ave.; just north of Division St.

“We took a look at the motor. Even though they’d painted part of it, it had all of my custom parts on it. It was mine. I just kept cool; we didn’t confront them. I told Rickerd it would probably fit in a car I had, and I’d be back.”

East Precinct CRU Sgt. John Scruggs shows us some of the guns they found in the home where Wood’s engine was offered for sale.

Brings out cops, not cash
Instead of heading to the bank to get some cash, Wood makes a bee-line for Portland Police Bureau East Precinct about 1:00 p.m.

“When Sgt. Anderson called to tell me that Wood positively identified his engine,” Lt. Chris Uehara, acting Commander of East Precinct tells us, “I had Sgt. John Scruggs and his Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) come to the house and recover this engine.”

Says this is community policing at its best
“Fantastic,” Uehara says as a smile broadens across his face. When not acting commander, he’s the lieutenant in charge of CRU.

“This is exactly what we want: citizens calling in and reporting crime,” says Uehara. “Citizens are our eyes and ears in the community. They did it right. They didn’t act as vigilantes; they didn’t take matters into their own hands‚ they did it the right way and called us in.”

Wood comments, “You know, I am from Idaho; we tend to take care of things ourselves. I thought about taking [my engine] back, but saw a lot of other parts at the house and decided to call the police.”

While they’re disappointed they didn’t find Wood’s car intact, CRU team leader, and acting precinct commander, Lt. Chris Uehara says he’s happy these suspected criminals are off the street.

Finds drugs and guns
Uehara reports CRU officers found small, user-amounts of narcotics. “We found some meth paraphernalia in the house. Methamphetamine, auto theft, and burglaries, these activities all go hand-in-hand.”

After searching the house, CRU Sergeant John Scruggs shows us weapons they say came from inside the house where the stolen engine was offered for sale. “I believe there are more guns in the house; we’re still looking.”

Scruggs says they ran the plates on the cars and motorcycles located on the property. “It doesn’t look like they’re stolen. We’ll continue to investigate what’s in the house; we suspect there is more stolen property there; but we have no other complainants.”

Felons arrested
Just after 5:00 p.m., officers arrest 29-year-old Jason Rickerd on one count of “Theft By Receiving in the First Degree” for allegedly (and unknowingly) trying to sell Wood’s engine back to him. He also is charged with one count of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm”.

50-year-old Clifford Rickerd, Jason’s father, was also arrested for Probation Violation. Ironically, Clifford Rickerd is on probation for “Theft By Receiving in the First Degree” in connection with another stolen vehicle.

Welcome to the worldwide ‘fencing operation’
We ask Scruggs if he and the CRU unit are finding more stolen goods showing up on Internet sites like Craig’s List and E-Bay.

“We haven’t detected a marked increase of stolen goods showing up on websites,” reports Scruggs. “We do see these sites used as a medium for selling stolen goods.”

The websites have cut into profits for “fences”, or middlemen, who buy and sell stolen property, the sergeant tells us. “Instead of having a fence give the criminal a dime on a dollar’s worth of property, the criminals now can ‘cut out the middleman’ and get the full fifty cents on the dollar.”

As evening falls, one of those accused stands in the rain, waiting to go to jail.

Not driving back to Idaho
While we talk with officers, Wood and his friend struggle with a rickety homemade engine hoist and carefully lift his engine into the back of his friend’s truck.

Wood’s friend picks up chromed exhaust pipes from the El Camino, and show us how they bottoms were caved in and scraped. “They had to fly the car to do this. It had fly up in the air, and hit so hard that it bottomed out and scraped the pipes,” Wood says.

Wood and officers talk to neighbors along SE 112th Avenue, trying to get additional information. One person says he saw the cut-up pieces of a vehicle, matching Wood’s Chevy, being taken away in a scrap metal truck.

“I guess that means I’m not taking my car back home,” Wood says. “But at least, I got my engine‚ and some of the people involved with this crime.”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Apparently, this home-invading thief picked the wrong target‚ and was shot in the head. Learn what the neighbors have to say, and see exclusive photos, right here‚

NE Glisan St. was shut down all morning while police investigated the shooting of a man accused of breaking into this Hazelwood home.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
“About 5 a.m. this morning, the sound of lots of sirens and police cars woke us up,” says Sunny Frankel. She lives in Hazelwood, just across NE Glisan Street where police have strung yellow crime-scene tape around a home in the 10700 block.

“You could hear lots of commotion,” Frankel adds. “An ambulance came and went. I hear there was a shooting.”

Burglary in progress
Police log the early morning disturbance on June 29 as “Incident # 311: burglary in progress” at 4:50 am.

As Portland Police Bureau East Precinct officers roll to the scene, the call is updated; they learn someone had been shot. Officers arrive and locate an individual who, officials say, has suffered a possibly life-threatening gunshot wound.

Officers get 71-year-old Leroy Hudson and another resident out of the house and then, go in to investigate.

Police aren’t saying much about the case‚ other than they’re investigating. Here, you can see the CSI heading into the home.

“They found one person down, in an enclosed porch area,” says police spokesman, Sgt. Brian Schmautz.

Homeowner cooperates
We’re told that Hudson heard someone breaking into his house, armed himself, and confronted the invading burglar.

The police say this man, Brent Sweet, was shot after he broke into Hudson’s home.

“The 26-year-old burglary suspect suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. He is in critical condition at Emanuel Hospital,” is the official word from the police.

Typically, this neighborhood is pretty quiet, neighbors say, and add they hope this shooting with discourage other criminals from trying to break into their home at night.

Officials say Hudson is cooperating with the investigation. Hours later, Schmautz publicly states, “We have no intention to bring charges against Mr. Hudson. And, it’s my understanding that the District Attorney declined to send an investigator to the scene.”

More as this story develops.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Even worse than the damage already done to 40+ vehicles is the concern that the hooligans are still on the loose‚ and might be returning. See exclusive photos‚

The owner of this car‚ one of many damaged in the early-morning smashing spree‚ taped up the baseball-sized hole to keep rain from damaging the interior of her car.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It’s clear: windows of about 40 vehicles were bashed in, or smashed out, during the early morning vandalism spree on June 28.

What isn’t clear is why the perpetrators of this senseless destruction chose this activity ‚Äì or who the thugs may be.

The area of outer East Portland affected by the crime lies between SE Stark Street, north to NE Halsey Street, and from 77th Avenue to as far east as 122nd Avenue.

Teens chased by neighbors
Police officers are called into the neighborhood about 3:30 a.m., answering a car prowl report, officials say. A neighbor who says he just chased a teenager out of the area flags down officers, as they roll into the area. A witness reports seeing a silver car, driven by a teenager, flee the neighborhood.

A K-9 team patrol car rushes to the area, but no suspects are tracked down.

Rear windows targeted
As owners inspect their newly-damaged cars, they notice nothing has been stolen from them. Instead of finding items removed, many of them find their vehicles now have something extra: Baseball to softball size rocks in the back seats of cars.

As the sun rises and residents in the affected area awaken, officers find a rapidly-increasing number of cars with the back windows broken out.

Afraid of a return visit
With so many cars damaged in the area of NE 77th Avenue, north of NE Glisan Street, residents with whom we spoke say they are afraid to be identified. We assure them we won’t report even their block address.

“We don’t know who they are; the police haven’t caught them‚ they’re still out there. We’re worried they’ll come back tonight,” says one nervous resident as he works in his yard.

The neighbor of the owner of this car says the entire rear window was smashed out “for no apparent reason. They didn’t steal anything.”

Further east from the other incidents, near SE 109th Avenue and SE Stark Street another car is damaged.

Marilyn Blufton tapes plastic across the gaping hole in the rear window of her black Toyota. “This car isn’t anything special; but it is my transportation. It’s how I get to work. I don’t understand what the thrill is to smash up someone’s car.”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

It wasn’t a burglary. The driver claims mechanical problems; cops don’t buy his story. You won’t believe the damage that was done — even after you see our exclusive photos‚

The driver tries to explain to Portland Police officers how making a right-hand turn caused his pickup truck to end up parked half-way inside the Woodstock RadioShack store.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Everyone‚ including the driver‚ agrees on what happened late in the evening on June 17. But why a full-sized Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck ended up halfway through the Woodstock RadioShack store front window is still unclear.

Eyewitnesses, watching from Mickey Finn’s across the street, agree on what they saw: The truck was northbound on SE 44th Ave.; it accelerated and fishtailed as it turned right, heading eastbound on SE Woodstock Blvd. It kept turning and drove up the curb, across the sidewalk, popped up the four-brick-high facing, and through the plate glass window storefront.

“A guy and girl got out and started running,” said one patron. “I recognized him, I know his family. But, he walked back to the scene of the accident before the police arrived.”

Although the incident caused extensive damage to the store‚ and shook up other tenants in the building‚ no one was hurt in this crash.

Crash shakes building
When we arrive on scene, we meet Robin, owner of the Bubble Tea restaurant directly east of the RadioShack store.

“I was working late, doing paperwork in the office,” he tells us. “I heard a loud, big sound. I think ‘Something is wrong; really wrong.’ I felt the building shake. Then, I heard the next door alarm going off.”

Driver tries to explain
The driver of the truck, who police later identified as 26-year-old Andrew Rubin Garcia, has no qualms about speaking with us.

“When you drop the truck into four-wheel drive,” Garcia explains, “all of a sudden, all the front and back tires start moving at the same time. As you turn, you fishtail, because the back tires are moving. It is the only way I can explain it. I just turned right, and it fishtailed right into the building.”

The RadioShack store manager arrives to find his storefront demolished, and calls his regional manager, the insurance company, and a board-up service.

Because the truck had dropped into four-wheel drive, Garcia adds, it was easily able to climb over the bricks below the plate glass windows and drive into the store.

Sobriety checked
Portland Police Bureau SE Precinct officers can’t help but smile as passers-by use their cell phones to take photos of the wreck‚ with themselves included in the picture.

Despite claims of a mechanical malfunction, the results of a Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division officer’s Field Sobriety Evaluation sends this driver to the Justice Center.

A Traffic Division officer pulls up on his motorcycle. We see Garcia led through a Field Sobriety Evaluation. This officer isn’t smiling as he concludes the tests. Garcia is escorted to a patrol car and taken to the Justice Center.

As of this writing, officials have not released what charges are pending, if any, against Garcia.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

See what locals say could have prevented the death of this 17-year-old Brooklyn neighborhood resident‚

Portland Police Bureau officers confer with Portland Fire & Rescue Truck 23 firefighters, a Union Pacific security officer, and railroad workers, as they begin to unravel why a 17-year-old high school junior was killed in the Brooklyn train yard.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For several evenings after his sudden death, friends of 17-year-old Christopher John King gathered near the steps of Cleveland High School. They were mourning the loss of, what one student described as “a cool guy”.

Although we wanted to learn more about the young man for whom candlelight vigils are being held at the school where he was a junior classman, we respected his friends’ request to leave the area.

Struck by a boxcar
Around the clock, one can hear railroad engines roar, as rail cars are shuffled into trains, eventually heading north and south, from the Brooklyn Union Pacific train yard.

Minutes after 5 p.m. on June 18, the rail yard goes strangely silent. A teenager is dead; he lays on the switchyard tracks, partially under a boxcar.

“I saw him start into the yard,” a railroad worker tells a Portland Police officer as they stand on the eastern edge of the rail yard, where SE Lafayette St. dead-ends into the train yard, just west of SE 20th Ave. The two are in front of a sagging eight-foot tall chain-link fence has been pried loose from rebar latticework directly under a footbridge that spans the train yard.

“I saw him look like he was going forward, then back and forward. He fell, and I saw dust kick up,” the worker reported.

A worker talks with a Portland Police officer at the hole in the fence officials say teenagers commonly use to cut through the train yard, instead of using the footbridge, directly above it.

Rescue workers powerless
We hike across the footbridge; it provides a panoramic view of the rail yard. On the west side, a firefighter from Portland Fire & Rescue Station 23 walks up to us, and looks over his shoulder at boxcars stopped on the easterly side of yard. “There was nothing we could do; the victim is deceased.”

A Union Pacific security officer approaches us. We ask for a comment; he tells us we’re on private property and politely asks us to leave. Minutes after re-crossing the footbridge, we see three individuals, with grief-stricken expressions, holding hands as they walk unsteadily out of the nearby Brooklyn neighborhood. The trio disappears from sight as they cross the bridge.

Rescue workers say they found the young victim deceased upon their arrival.

Takes a deadly shortcut
It’s common for teens to hike through the train yard‚ instead of using the footbridge‚ officials say.

King lived nearby the Brooklyn train yard, in the 1400 block of SE Rhone Street. By some accounts, some of the friends with whom King was walking chose to climb the steep stairs and to cross the train yard on the footbridge.

“A witness stated that a second teenager was walking westbound through the train yard him at the time the train struck King,” Portland Police Bureau’s Sgt. Brian Schmautz told us. “The train was traveling southbound on the tracks at the time of the collision. The witness stated that their attention was on another train moving through the area.”

It appeared that the deceased may not have heard or seen the train as it approached their location and hit him, Schmautz added.

As a courtesy to Union Pacific, Portland Fire & Rescue team member cordons off the scene of the accident. Union Pacific security officers investigated the death.

Bystander Jack Garrison shakes his head as he watches police officers stretch yellow crime scene tape bounding the east side of the rail yard. He says works for a nearby company. “It seems there must be a way to make the fence more secure here. A hole in the fence is like an invitation to walk on through, instead of taking the bridge.”

Other than expressing sorrow for King’s death, the railroad company has not made public comment on the tragic accident.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Eddie is a big, energetic cuddly pooch who seems to love people‚ that is, unless you are a fleeing criminal suspect. Learn more about Portland’s four-footed cops‚ and where to meet them, in person, on June 23‚

Portland Police Bureau K9 Officer Shawn Gore tells neighbors how police dogs help apprehend criminals and aid officer safety.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Folks who came to the Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander’s Forum in June met two special guests, two officers from neighboring Southeast Precinct.

But, one of the two officers, Eddie, walked on all fours, wagged his brown bushy tail, and licked his partner. Oh yes, Eddie is the partner of K9 Officer Shawn Gore.

“Police dogs save thousands of man-hours,” Gore began. “A dog can ‘clear’ [check to see if anyone is hiding in] a building faster than an entire squad of police officers. Our K9s catch 250 to 300 suspects a year. They are called in, primarily, to sniff out the bad guys; they are not ‘aggressive attack’ dogs.”

On duty 24/7
Currently, the Portland Police Bureau has had ten K9 teams on the job; one additional team is in training. This means an officer and dog is available pretty much around the clock, every day of the week.

Detecting the ‘fear scent’
“Our dogs are trained to detect fresh human scent,” Gore said. “Suspects will drop or discard items; but dogs are trained to find human scent, not articles. You might say they’re ‘hot trailing’ dogs. We have a starting point. Someone runs away from a scene. We’ll try to track the trail. We’re able to track suspects about 20%.”

Asked if the dogs sense the suspect’s fear, Gore replied, “We used to call it ‘fear scent’, but that concept isn’t provable scientifically. But, people do put off enhanced scent when they’re amped-up, running and fearful.”

When hot-trailing a suspect, Gore said he relies on other officers to look out for, and protect him and his K9 partner. “I’m focused on reading my dog’s reactions. And yes, the dog knows the difference between an exercise and a real call. He can tell when we’re about to track a suspect.”

Different dogs for different jobs
The officer said dogs are trained for specific jobs. “The bureau has patrol and hot-tracking dogs; our Drugs and Vice Division have two drug detection dogs, and TriMet and Port of Portland have explosive-sensing dogs.”

In addition to their regular duties, Gore and Eddie are members of the SERT squad, called in for high-risk police work. “Our dogs aren’t much affected by tear gas; a little by pepper spray.”

Gores says Eddie is fast becoming a top-notch tracker.

No kennels for police pooches
“Although we’re headquartered at Southeast Precinct, our dogs are not kenneled. We take the dog home every day. It builds a bond, and trust. It doesn’t make sense for a dog to go into dark scary places‚ they may not want to. But, because they trust their human partners, they will do so.”

Asked about how the dogs are kept healthy, Gore told the group, “They’re on a good diet, we exercise them well, and give them supplements. We keep our dogs on the leaner side. We have to jump a lot of fences.”

Gore complemented the Southeast Precinct Citizen’s Advisory group for their long support ‚Äì both moral and financial ‚Äì of the K9 program. “They bought my first dog, Deny, in 1998. They’ve helped buy other dogs‚ and purchased most of the ballistic dog vests to keep our partners safer.”

Lowering his voice, Gore spoke for a moment about that former partner, Deny. “Together, we caught 415 suspects. Deny got cancer, and we had to put him down last year.”

Eddie, Officer Gore said, loves being petted by everyone. Deny, has last K9 partner, was more aloof.

Introduces his new partner
After a brief break, Gore introduced Eddie, a Belgian Malinois.

Gore said the preference for police dog breeds is shifting from the German Shepherd to the Malinois, a Belgian shepherd dog. “This is a ‘high energy’ dog that does best when it has a definite purpose in life. Police dogs need to be social among citizens, then focus as they hunt and track, and then be assertive when they locate the suspect.”

The officer said the department buys dogs from professional breeders. “Dogs cost from $6,000 to $8,000 each; but they come with health and temperament guarantees. The dog must hold up to the rigors of the job. When they retire, many times they’ll live with the handler. But, these are high-drive dogs; they want to work to the very end.”

After the officer and dog have bonded for a few weeks, the K9 team goes through 400 hours of training. Before they are certified, the pair must K9 Performance Standards tests.

How citizens can help when K9 teams are tracking
Asked what people should do when they seen an officer with a police dog in their area, Gore said, “Stay inside; keep your pets indoors. The more distractions we and our dogs have, the less successful we are. If you see the suspect, tell us through a window or door.”

Officer Gore and his late partner Deny were honored by the Portland Police Bureau at their awards ceremony held on June 20 at the David Douglas Horner Performing Arts Center.

Meet the dogs – and your East Precinct officers on June 23
Plan to attend the Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Open House on Saturday. This really is a lot of fun, and informative, too! It runs from Noon until 4:00 p.m.

Meet your neighborhood officers! Tour your precinct!  See PPB Special Units, including their Mounted Unit, Explosives Devices, K-9 & others! Pick up lots of great public safety & crime prevention material. WAIT! There’s more! Get free giveaways, plus food & beverages! It’s all at East Precinct, 737 SE 106th Ave. For more information, call: (503) 823-4800.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

They say the driver had a heart attack and lost consciousness, causing him to veer off Marine Drive. Learn how rescue teams from three agencies worked hand-in-hand to rescue the victim‚ still alive‚

After veering off NE Marine Drive, the pickup truck plunged to a depth of 17 feet under the cold Columbia River’s surface.

By David F. Ashton
A motorist on NE Marine Drive and a cyclist on the bike path tell 911 operators they just saw a black Ford Ranger 4×4 splash into the Columbia River, just west of the Glenn Jackson Bridge, on June 19.

Simultaneously, these witnesses tell emergency operators they see a man struggling to free himself from the vehicle through the rear window‚ but the truck sinks before the driver makes it out.

“Perfect” inter-agency cooperation
To members of three responding rescue agencies, it doesn’t matter why the truck veered off a smooth, straight section of road on a sunny morning.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Dive Rescue Team, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R), and Port of Portland Fire & Rescue all race to the site where the truck slipped under the 61-degree, fast-moving river.

“This incident is a textbook example of ‘perfect’ inter-agency cooperation,” says MSCO spokesman, Lt. Jason Gates, as he fills us in on the rescue effort.

Training exercise turns into rescue effort
When the mid-morning call came in, Gates says, the MCSO Dive Rescue Team are training at the 42nd Street boat ramp [on NE Marine Drive]. They grab their gear and arrive on scene six minutes later.

As MCSO divers charge into water, Port of Portland’s crew located the vehicle‚ 17 feet under the river’s surface.

“Fighting against the river’s strong current, MCSO diver Dep. Brent Laizure finds the driver, still stuck, half-way out of the pick-up’s rear window,” reports Gates. “Laizure cuts the driver free from his seat belt, pulls him free, and transfers the seemingly dead driver to Gresham Fire diver Lt. Jay Cross.”

Removed from his truck by a sheriff’s deputy, then being taken to the river’s bank by a Gresham Fire diver, PF&R firefighters carry the accident victim up to waiting paramedics.

Cross swims and guides the patient to shore where PF&R rescue workers bring the victim from the river’s edge, then up the steep embankment to awaiting paramedics.

Paramedics establish a pulse
The rescued driver wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Despite the two dozen minutes the man had been under water, paramedics applied CPR and oxygen, and to their astonishment were able to establish a pulse. They transported him to Emanuel Hospital.

Because of the rapid response of three agencies, paramedics were able to reestablish the victim’s pulse.

“From the time the man went into the water to recovery was approximately 26 minutes,” Gates explains. “Although rare, in cold-water drowning, there exists a possibility of resuscitation.”

The driver, identified as 55-year-old Roy Clark, a Gresham resident, is in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center. Clark is said to have suffered a medical condition that caused him to momentarily lose consciousness, thus losing control of his vehicle.

“The teamwork among the agencies was superb,” comments Gates. “They gave the victim a chance to survive.”

Clark’s pickup truck was recovered from the Columbia River after he was rescued.

Photos: MSCO
© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Not since the Division/Clinton Street Parade and Fair have we seen such a crowd in this inner SE Portland neighborhood. See exclusive photos and learn what fire investigators have to say about this blaze‚

The commercial building fire at SE 20th Ave. and Clinton St. burns so fast and hot, a second alarm is called just eleven minutes after the first.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Not often do we arrive on-scene at a fire and see flames leaping high out of a structure. Typically, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) firefighters have already gotten the blaze out before we get there.

On June 11, Jim Farris, the owner of Red’s Electric, closed his business as usual. But an hour later, at 6:00 p.m., people were gathering on the sidewalks nearby to watch, as firefighters raced to his warehouse‚ now belching smoke‚ on SE Clinton St., just west of SE 20th Avenue.

“There was a lot of smoke coming out of it,” area resident Sarah Hendrickson tells us. “Then, flames started shooting up the side of the building. The wind was blowing and I thought the fire might damage other buildings.”

When PF&R Engine Company 23 pulls up, three minutes after receiving the call, they see thick, heavy smoke billowing from the eaves of the residential electrical contractor’s warehouse.

Firefighters enter the company’s office and cover equipment and records to minimize damage.

“Firefighters are making an aggressive interior attack on the fire,” reports the bureau’s Lt. Allen Oswalt, “but heavy smoke and intense heat from the burning plastic coating on wire coils, and other electrical supplies, are giving off extremely dense smoke and high heat.”

While many firefighters concentrate on the fire in the warehouse, other crewmembers race to reduce smoke and water damage to in the building’s office. They crawl in a broken window, and quickly wrap file cabinets and computers in plastic to help protect them from debris and water.

As fire and smoke build, the Battalion Chief orders firefighters out of the building.

The fire continues to escalate. Battalion Chief Chris Babcock orders the firefighters out of the building, and calls for a second alarm at 6:11 p.m., bringing more firefighters and equipment to the scene.

“Every time they’d bust open a hole, flames shot everywhere,” says neighbor Ruthie Berry. “My friend owns a music studio in the building next door. I’m concerned that the fire will spread to the other buildings.”

Firefighters douse flames from the outside for 15 minutes, then snug up their breathing gear and head back inside and extinguish the main body of the fire.

Dousing the building with water from the outside, firefighters quell the blazing inferno fueled by plastic-covered wire inside the warehouse.

We see Ferris pull up on scene, look at his building on fire, and walk over to the Battalion Chief’s vehicle.

By 6:44 p.m., the fire is out; but firefighters remain scene for several hours. “It will take a while for firefighters to ‘overhaul’‚ dig through the rubble‚ to make sure no hidden hot spots might flare up later,” says Oswalt.

Myra walks up and tells us she’s lived in the neighborhood for thirty years. “I’ve used Red’s Electric in the past,” she says. “It is a good, responsible business. But I think they sold the place; the timing of this fire seems odd.”

Ferris later tells reporters that, while the building hasn’t yet been sold, a contract of sale is pending on the property. He says they were planning to move into a new location in about six months.

To keep the adjoining structure‚ just inches away‚ from catching on fire, firefighters shoot streams of water between the buildings.

“Investigators have listed the cause of the fire as undetermined. The cause is not suspicious,” Oswalt tells us, “but the investigation is continuing. Damage to the building and contents is estimated to be $300,000.”

No one was in the building at the time of the fire, Oswalt adds; all workers had gone home by the time the fire was discovered. “There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.”

PF&R’s Public Information Officer, Lt. Allen Oswalt, confers with fire crews.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

The cops didn’t catch the armed robber they were tracking down‚ but wait until you see the BIG pistol they took from a fellow they call a felon‚

Even if this isn’t the weapon used in the tavern robbery, neighbors say they feel safer knowing this big-barreled blaster‚ toted by a felon‚ is off the streets.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A gun-toting robber holds up Cheers Tavern on SE 122nd Ave at Holgate St.; the bandit makes off with a with the watering-hole’s cash drawer on Monday afternoon, June 11.

One of Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct police officers catches sight of a vehicle roughly matching the description used by the robber at SE  92nd Ave. and Flavel St. The car careens north on SE 52nd Ave. in inner SE Portland.

Neighbors report this Acura didn’t make the corner, climbed the utility pole guy wire, and slid back down before the driver fled on foot.

“I was standing in my driveway and saw this white Acura coming [north on SE 52nd Ave.], heading right for me [westbound on SE Henderson St.],” the resident tells us. “He was going too fast to make the turn, and he drove right up the guy wire for this [utility] pole. The car slid back down, and he took off on foot.”

The driver, a male, takes off running, leaving a woman in the car. He heads west on SE Henderson St., and starts to jump the fence of a home protected by a very large, growling dog. Three houses west of SE 52nd Ave., he heads north, jumping fences, cutting through yards.

An officer, with his K-9 partner, search the area looking (and sniffing) for any evidence the fleet-footed suspect may have discarded during the chase.

The fence-hopping suspect pops out at SE 52nd and Knapp St., apparently hoping to circle back around and get to his car‚ but runs into a homeowner armed with a shovel. “I encouraged him to leave my yard,” he tells us.

Neighbors make sure this suspect doesn’t get away. They point out his direction of travel to cops who swarm the area.

The suspect continues east, crossing SE 52nd Ave., hopping yet another fence, and cuts north to SE Ogden St. where cops take him down.

While they now say it’s unlikely that 27-year-old Don Ray Livingston was the Cheers Tavern bandit‚ they did arrest him for being a “Felon in Possession of a Firearm”.

Still, a good collar
“Officers took 27-year-old Don Ray Livingston into custody,” reports Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz. “There was some [police] radio chatter that indicated he might have had some connection to the robbery, but that proved false.”

Nonetheless, Schmautz says, Livingston is charged with “Felon in Possession of a Firearm” and “Attempt to Elude”.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

Did leaves really keep this truck driver from seeing the stop sign? See for yourself‚ and the damage this NE Portland accident caused‚

Portland Fire & Rescue firefighters from Truck 2 help paramedics prepare a driver injured in this collision.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As foliage grows out, we notice more and more stop signs being hidden by the leaves.

“The driver of a van, heading west on NE Wygant Street, says she didn’t see the stop sign at NE 112th Avenue,” reported Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Officer Michael Leisure.

By looking at the damage, it appeared as if the van’s driver was traveling at a good clip when she collided with a sedan.

Regardless who was at fault, two vehicles were wrecked, and two people went to the hospital because of the accident.

The driver of the van appeared shaken, but said she was OK. Two of the occupants of the auto were transported to the hospital by ambulance; their condition remains undisclosed.

“The driver has the responsibility to look for traffic control signs‚ and to make sure the intersection is clear‚ even if they have the right-of-way,” Leisure told us at the scene.

What do you think? It looks as if leaves from the tree’s overhanging branches do partially block the view of the sign.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

We were touched by this service, at which the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department memorializes those who have given their lives to protect the citizens of the county. Take a look‚

The flag that flies in front of the County Sheriff’s Department is lowered, and made ready for presentation, at the department’s memorial ceremony.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A Color Guard unit marches to the front of the Hansen Building, home of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department, and takes their place. An Honor Guard, with ceremonial rifles in hand, performs an arms drill.

In addition to Sheriff’s Deputies, Gresham Police Department, Portland Police Bureau, Sheriff’s offices from Clackamas and Clark County are also present for this solemn program held at on the late morning of May 16.

Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto speaks with us as the memorial service is about to begin.

The flag, about to be ceremonially folded, is displayed.

“The nation started this recognition and memorial service 16 years ago. It is to remind us, not only of the sacrifice of the people in law enforcement who have lost their lives, but also what it means to protect the nation, our state, and our community.

“It’s important to remember that sacrifice. It is also important to remember that these men and women protect the freedoms we enjoy in our country, in our state, and here in our county.”

The Honor Guard stands at attention before their black-powder salute.

After a brief invocation, the National Anthem plays.

Deputies slowly lower the flag in front of the Hansen Building. This flag is presented – held out in the noonday sun. As a new flag is raised, then lowered to half staff, the retired flag is ceremonially folded and presented to Sheriff Giusto.

Sheriff Bernie Giusto receives the flag, taken down in honor of fallen deputies.

“Taps” is bugled; the Honor Guard fires their rifles into the springtime sky.

Sheriff Giusto addresses the group, saying in part, “Behind each [fallen member’s name] is a story of service to others. Of risks taken, so that others might be safe; of running toward danger, not away from it. We celebrate the legacy they left behind: A safer and more secure nation.”

The “Roll of Fallen Deputies” is read aloud, naming those who fell in service from 1917 to 2003.

A Portland Police Bureau bagpiper plays “Amazing Grace”.

Sheriff Giusto salutes the carefully-folded United States flag, after he places it before the Deputies’ Memorial.

Speaking to us after the memorial ceremony, regarding the law enforcement professionals with whom he works, Giusto adds, “As we move forward, it is an amazing dynamic that people are willing to come into our profession. They are willing to ‘give it all’.”

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service

The barricade-smashing granny wasn’t the only problem driver threatening the Portland Rose Festival Children’s Parade this week. You’ll be amazed to read what this guy did‚ and what he had in his car, and at his East County home‚

Story by David F. Ashton
Just as the annual Portland Rose Festival Children’s Parade was getting underway at 12:30 p.m. on June 5, the 9-1-1 Call Center started getting calls about a Ford Focus automobile that had crashed through a barricade near the intersection of NE 56th Avenue and Sacramento Street.

Once through the barricades, police say the driver ended up in the parade’s staging area. There, they say, the errant driver hit a parked car and kept going. The Ford bumped into a participant, who hopped up on the hood of the car to avoid being hurt.

“From there,” reported Portland Police Bureau spokesman, Sgt. Brian Schmautz, “The driver found himself stuck behind a large group of junior high students lining up to march in the parade. Taking the path of least resistance, he began to drive through the crowd of students at a very slow speed. Officers on the other side of the parade line quickly converged on the car, and took the driver into custody.”

Police find four ounces of pot
Police identified the parade-crashing driver as 35-year-old Joshua Cohen, an East County resident, and placed him under arrest.

Police charged Joshua Cohen Possession, Delivery, and Manufacture of Marijuana, after they found a growing operation in his Montavilla home.

“Hand prints on the windshield of Cohen’s car helped officers determine that this may have been the same car just reported as being involved in the hit and run,” Schmautz added. “Officers ordered a tow for Cohen’s car, and conducted an inventory search. Officers located approximately one-quarter pound of marijuana.”

East County suspect’s problems grow
As cops continued to question Cohen, he indicated that he had a marijuana grow operation at his Montavilla residence, in the 8400 block of Southeast Alder Street.

Schmautz told us Drugs and Vice Division officers searched Cohen’s home, and, with his consent, removed about 20 growing marijuana plants from his residence.

“Cohen was cited and released, and charged with one count each of Possession, Delivery, and Manufacture of Marijuana, and the two counts of “Failing to Perform the Duties of a Driver [Hit and Run],” commented Schmautz.

© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service