After ramming rampage, woman arrested in Montavilla – ‘domestic violence’

See why this knife-armed female gave law enforcement officers concern, as they attempted to take her into custody in outer East Portland …

Officers arrive for a potential domestic violence situation that ends up in a 1.5 mile pursuit – from the North Tabor, to the Montavilla neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Concerns about a potential domestic violence situation led to Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct dispatched at 6:19 p.m. on August 17 to the residential area of 6000 block of NE Flanders Street near 60th Avenue, in the North Tabor neighborhood.

“Preliminary information is that a woman, armed with a knife, threatened another person,” said PPB Public Information Officer Lt. Greg Pashley. “When officers arrived, the subject got into a vehicle and fled; when officers tried to stop her, she eluded them in her vehicle.”

A Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, assigned to the Transit Police Division, was in the area at the time of the call, and stopped to learn the woman’s direction of travel.

After fleeing from police, the suspect rams a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at patrol vehicle. PPB image

“Not long thereafter, the subject intentionally crashed – head on – into the stopped Transit Police patrol vehicle in the Montavilla neighborhood, near NE 81st Avenue and Holladay Street. The sergeant was not injured,” Lt. Pashley told East Portland News.

Not willing to give up after the 1.5 mile pursuit and crash, the woman got out of her car, still armed with a knife, and approached the sergeant and the PPB officers who had arrived at the scene.

This is the knife that the suspect finally relinquished, officials say. PPB image

Although this woman, 21-year-old Maya Dams, has already been released from custody, she’ll still be called to answer in court for three Felony and five Misdemeanor charges. MCDC booking photo

Officers were able to safely take the person, later identified as 21-year-old Maya Dams, into custody. Dams was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 7:32 p.m. that evening on two counts of Attempt to Elude (Vehicle), Reckless Driving, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Criminal Mischief I, Criminal Mischief II, Menacing (Domestic Violence).

Dams was released by a judge the next day, August 18, without being required to post any bail. Release Reason: Court Release on Recognizance.

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