Desperado opens fire on US Marshals in Parkrose

Bullets flew on NE 95th Avenue, just south of NE Sandy Blvd. Find out why the area was shut down for hours, and see exclusive photos of this week’s frightening mid-day event, right here …

NE Sandy Blvd. is shut down for blocks while Portland Police Bureau’s SERT squad moves in to give a hand to US Marshals to apprehend a suspected gunslinger, in Parkrose.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Shots rang out at a low-income housing apartment building in the far southwest corner of the Parkrose Neighborhood on August 27.

From the media vantage point far back in the MAX Park-and-Ride Station on NE Sandy Blvd., about 1:00 p.m., we could see six individuals sitting on the ground, opposite of the target apartment building.

Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) officers suited up, and moved in, to clear an apartment of potentially lurking individuals or weapons.

Using great caution, SERT officers prepare to enter the apartment from where a suspected gunman opened fire on US Marshal’s Service agents.

“At 12:13 p.m., U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) personnel were assisting members of the Vancouver Safe Streets Task Force and the Vancouver Police Department Career Criminal Apprehension Team (CCAT) in locating and apprehending a wanted subject at a residence near the 4600 block of NE 95th Avenue,” reported Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Lt. Kelli Sheffer, at the scene.

Peering around the corner, officers check on the situation, and keep residents and pedestrians back from the corner of the building.

Hunting down a suspected attempted murderer
Later, we learned from Eric Wahlstrom, spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Oregon Fugitive Task Force, that the CCAT was in Parkrose because they had “probable cause” for arresting a man they identified as 23 year-old Adam Berndt for attempted murder, after he was identified as being the shooter in an August 25^th incident.

“That shooting incident occurred in Clark County, Washington, where the victim was shot five times, and is in critical condition,” stated Wahlstrom.

Further, Wahlstrom went on, Berndt was wanted for Parole Violation (original charge: Escape) by the Washington State Department of Corrections, and has a criminal history including Assault II.

“While attempting to arrest the wanted subject,” Wahlstrom related, “Berndt exited the front of the residence and began firing shots toward USMS personnel. USMS personnel returned fire, striking the subject multiple times. [Portland Police Bureau’s] SERT responded, along with several uniformed officers, to secure the scene ,until it was safe for residents to return to their homes.”

Later in the day, Lt. Sheffer said that Berndt was was still in critical but stable condition.

Police detained these individuals, said to have been in apartment for questioning, but were later released.

“There are no other arrests associated with this shooting at this time,” Sheffer added. “Persons inside the residence from which Berndt exited were detained until investigators had a chance to speak with them and were then released. The Portland Police Bureau will continue this investigation.

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