Gun-pointing ‘camper’ closes Foster Road

Here’s why the outer East Portland ramp off I-205 was closed, and police flooded the area, late Saturday afternoon …

In the Lents neighborhood, the southbound Foster Road offramp from Interstate 205 is closed while police investigate the report of a homeless person pointing a handgun at passing motorists.

Story and photos by David F/. Ashton

Motorists exiting southbound I-205 were startled and concerned – to the point that several drivers called the 9-1-1 Center, on November 3, telling the call-takers that a man, near tents set up near SE Foster Road, had pointed a handgun at them, and appeared to cock it.

These calls caused eight Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers to be dispatched there at 4:27 p.m.; officers reported they were in place to make contact with the subject or subjects at 4:38 p.m.

Because the suspect or suspects had ducked into tents upon seeing police in the area, officers approached them with caution.

Although a police dispatcher reported that a customer at the new Planet Fitness gym, located near the area, said he saw a person “shooting into the ground, but didn’t hear gunshot sounds”, officers approached the tents of two men, into which each had reportedly ducked, with caution.

“That looks like a scary situation, especially of one of those ‘campers’ hiding in the tent has a gun,” gym patron Ron Davis told East Portland News, as we watched from behind parked vehicles in the lot.

Officers talk with two men, trying to learn their true identities.

Eventually, officers convinced the two men to come out from their temporary lodging; both were handcuffed while their identities were verified.

“A BB or pellet gun was located during the investigation, but there was no evidence of a firearm or any gunfire located by officers,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Chris Burley, after looking at the call records.

Although several individuals appeared to be at the encampment, two men were taken into custody, Burley said.

Charged with two misdemeanors, one being “Discharging a Firearm”, 24-year-old Domingo Gabriel Hermosillo is booked into jail, but was released by a judge on his own recognizance the following morning. MCDC booking photo

24-year-old Domingo Gabriel Hermosillo was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 6:26 p.m. that evening on charges of Second Degree Disorderly Conduct; and Discharging a Firearm in the City – both a misdemeanor crime

After his arraignment, Hermosillo was released from custody the next morning; Release Reason: Released on Own Recognizance.

Fugitive 58-year-old Robert Dean Thomas spends three days in jail until extradited by Washington state officials. MCDC booking photo

And also, 58-year-old Robert Dean Thomas was booked into MCDC at 6:23 p.m. that evening on Felony Fugitive charge out of Washington State. Thomas was released to Washington law enforcement officials on November 6.

“There were no reports of injury or property damage as a result of the investigation,” Burley reported.

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