Armed, wanted felon arrested in Powellhurst-Gilbert

Here’s how a sloppy parking job in outer East Portland landed a ‘wanted’ man in jail. See how long it took a judge to free him, with no bail …

Police move in, along this narrow street in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, after spotting a suspicious vehicle partly blocking the road.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Still on the lookout for a vehicle that had been involved in a theft from a business – exactly three months before, on February 6 – Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Gun Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) officers caught a lucky break on May 6, when, at 4:44 p.m., the vehicle turned up on SE Harold Street near 117th Avenue.

It wasn’t to spot, commented PPB Public Information Officer Nola Watts. “The suspect vehicle from the theft was parked in a hazardous manner, partially blocking the road.

In the vehicle, officers locate a handgun, and take it as evidence.

“When the GVRT officers conducted a traffic stop, they learned the occupant of the vehicle had three felony warrants for his arrest, and took him into custody.”

This Springfield Armory semi-automatic pistol, loaded with ammo, is what officers say they found. PPB provided image

Due to the vehicle partially blocking the road, it was towed as a hazard. “Officers inventoried the vehicle and found a loaded semi-automatic firearm,” reported Watts.

21-year-old Josiah Pittman was arrested and booked into Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 6:12 p.m. the same evening on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class C Felony; Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Facing a variety of charges is 21-year-old Josiah Pittman. MCDC booking photo

Pittman also was the subject of a warrant by Multnomah County for Felony Domestic Violence Strangulation; another warrant out of Marion County, for Felony Theft I; and yet another warrant from Washington County for two counts of Felony Identity Theft.

At Pittman’s arraignment, for the most current three charges, he was assigned $10,000 in combined bail – but Pittman learned he was also being held on an additional $10,000 bail for some of the warrant charges.

On May 8, a kindly judge “released” Pittman from posting bail fees, on all charges, and he walked free, back into the community. Listed “Release Reason”: Time Served on a Sentence.

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