POLICE PROCEDURAL VIDEO INCLUDED | Find out what it took to arrest this person – a man with 11 Felony warrants – found hiding in an outer East Portland apartment …
In the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, on SE 112th Avenue, Portland Police Bureau officers gather when a wanted felon is spotted driving into an apartment complex.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In the early evening of Thursday, August 10, as the sun was low on the western horizon, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were dispatched to the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.
They were responding to a “Suspicious Subject” call at 7:18 p.m. at the Meadowlark Apartments, 3600 SE 112th Avenue, a half block south of Powell Boulevard.
Knowing that the suspect is inside one of the apartments, officers take positions, waiting for him to come to the front door – or, perhaps, to flee through the back door.
As officers gathered, some took positions in the parking lot in the apartment courtyard area; others stationed themselves along SE 112th Avenue. At 8:28 p.m. a PPB sergeant closed off 112th Avenue from Powell Boulevard to Bush Street.
By that time, 16 officers, some with the PPB’s specialty teams, had arrived – including at least one with a beanbag “less-lethal” shotgun, as well as a PPB Canine team.
Residents of nearby apartments are brought to safety as the police operation got underway.
From the courtyard, the voice of an officer echoed through the complex, loud-haling the wanted man, demanding that he come out. “We are not leaving. Come out now,” was the command given.
At 8:43 p.m. the van with the PPB’s new “sUAS” [small Unmanned Aircraft System; commonly called a “drone”] had arrived, and the officer with it pulled into the apartment parking lot. [Read about the Portland Police Bureau’s demonstration and explanation and see video of the PPB’s drone program: CLICK HERE.]
Watch, as this standoff continues, into the night:
PPB officers and command staff waited patiently. However, the subject didn’t respond – for hours. At length the police made their move, and near midnight, the wanted man was taken into custody.
The next day, PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen provided additional details of the incident.
Outside the back of the targeted apartment, an officer and PPB Canine Team stand by, in case the suspect decides to make a run for it.
Officers originally responded to a report of a known car thief seen in the area, 35-year old Andrew Eric Roberts-Nichols. “Roberts-Nichols had a warrant for Robbery in the First Degree; officers contained the area and the suspect ran into his apartment,” Sergeant Allen told East Portland News.
“The vehicle he was seen associated with, in the parking lot, and had a shotgun inside. Due to the likelihood that the suspect was armed with another firearm, numerous officers responded to assist.”
Waiting at the scene of the standoff are many officers, including one with a “less-lethal” shotgun.
Despite many commands made using a patrol’s car PA system, Roberts-Nichols did not exit the apartment.
“After nearly two hours of loud-hailing, without response, supervisors requested to use the PPB ‘sUAS’,” Sergeant Allen said. “Operators used the drone to enter and search the apartment, remotely, without having to place officers or the public at risk”
Flying through interior of the apartment, the drone operators weren’t able to see or find the suspect. “So, officers went in to ‘clear’ the apartment – and the suspect was located in a hiding place – with another shotgun located a few feet away.”
After the sun goes down, the standoff continues – until officers go inside the apartment unit and find the suspect in his hiding place.
Because Roberts-Nichols had likely ingested drugs before his arrest, he was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, before taken downtown.
He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on August 11th at 2:54 a.m., and was later arraigned on two Felony charges: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Alteration of a Firearm Serial Number.
Even though the suspect, 35-year old Andrew Eric Nichols, is still in jail on three warrants, we still can’t show you his booking photo. CLICK HERE for details.
In this case, the suspect, booked as “Andrew Eric Nichols”, is also being held in custody, without bail, on three warrants:
22CR47519 – An indictment warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a stolen vehicle
21CR45440 – A cite-in-lieu warrant for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree and Attempted Theft in the Second Degree
22CR41585 – “Failure to comply”, 8 counts: Two for Robbery in the First Degree; three for Robbery in the Second Degree; Two for Felon in Possession of a Firearm; and two for Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
He’s currently in custody (until he’s released, again) downtown, in the MCDC.
© 2023 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™