Cops take three guns off the streets in two days

It’s not known if these guns, seized in outer East Portland from two suspects over two days, are related to recent shootings. One suspect is back on the streets …

Officers spy a suspicious car, and make a traffic stop that leads to the seizure of drugs, a gun, and money.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

While officials aren’t saying they’re connected – the recent rash of shootings in the Montavilla neighborhood within just a week, increased patrols by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct’s Street Crimes Unit and the Bureau’s Gun Violence Reduction Team resulted in the arrest of two suspects during two traffic stops.

Busts suspect with drugs, a gun, and cash

A suspect breaks free from officers and runs, but doesn’t get far.

On September 5 at 9:08, two officers with the PPB Street Crimes Unit stopped a car at SE 92nd Avenue and Stark Street. “After developing probable cause to arrest the driver, the officers attempted to place him into handcuffs, [but] he began fighting, finally pushing an officer, and ran away,” a PPB official recounted.

After a chase and brief scuffle, officers took the suspect into custody and began searching his vehicle.

Police find scales, pounds of drugs, a gun, and money in the suspect’s vehicle. PPB image

Officers found it a rolling “drug store”, stocked with more than three pounds of methamphetamine, and three ounces of heroin. Moreover, they also discovered more than $11,000 in cash.

And, tucked near the driver’s seat, officers found a loaded Arcus 9mm semiautomatic pistol, and loaded bullet magazines.

Facing drug and gun charges, 28-year-old Aaron Key III is being held in custody for the United States Marshall’s Office.

The suspect, 28-year-old Aaron Key III, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 2:18 p.m. that afternoon. Key is currently being held on a United States Marshall’s Office “hold”, with further criminal charges pending, at Inverness Jail.

Gun seized; suspect ‘investigated’

Although caught driving a stolen vehicle – with a gun in it – because of Oregon Court rulings, the suspect is set free.

The following evening, September 6 at 9:07 p.m., during what PPB officials called a “proactive patrol”, members of their Gun Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) spotted a stolen car near SE 117^th Avenue along Stark Street.

Officers take this Smith & Wesson 40 Caliber semiautomatic pistol from the driver of a stolen car, and criminal charges are “pending”.

“During the recovery of the car, the officers located and seized a Smith & Wesson 40 Caliber semiautomatic pistol; criminal charges are pending further investigation,” a police official said.

Man arrested, gun seized; suspect bails out of jail

After a late night traffic stop, officers find a gun in the vehicle.

Then at 11:55 p.m., GVRT officers stopped a vehicle in near SE 131^st Avenue and Division Street.

Inside the vehicle, officers find this SAR Arms semiautomatic pistol. PPB image

20-year-old Jermyah Lamont Washington is arrested on two gun charges, but bails out of jail hours after being arrested.

In this case, 20-year-old Jermyah Lamont Washington, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on September 7 at 12:49 a.m. in on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (City Code).

At his arraignment later that morning, Washington walked free, after posting $500 bail, 10% of the total $5,000 bail amount assigned by the judge, intended to assure he’ll return to court, when called to answer the charges.

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