From shootings to a stolen motorcycle, here’s how guns played a role in four crime-related incidents in the Centennial, Lents, Powellhurst-Gilbert, and Madison South neighborhoods this week …
Officers of the law are called out to outer East Portland neighborhoods to investigate gun violence, and felons with guns.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
People, with guns, were involved in a variety of criminal incidents this week – from shootings to a motorcycle theft.
October 17
Shooting wounds woman, in Centennial
On outer SE Division Street, officers investigate an argument that turned violent, leaving a woman wounded.
On the eastern edge of the city, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were sent to a “Shots Fired” report on Saturday, October 17, at 12:29 p.m. – just south of Division Street at SE 167th Avenue.
“Officers located an adult female, with a gunshot wound to the arm,” PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen said.
Paramedics prepare to take a woman, wounded by at least one gun shot, to the hospital.
Officers used a tourniquet to slow the bleeding before paramedics arrived; the victim was then taken to a local hospital. “Her injury was determined to be non-life threatening,” Allen reported.
What lead up to this shooting, officers learned, was an argument between known persons. “The suspect left the area before police arrived, and no arrests have yet been made,” said Allen.
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Assault Detective Michael Jones at 503 823-0400 or Michael.Jones@portlandoregon.gov, and reference case #20-314952.
October 18
In Centennial, bullets narrowly miss young girl in car
Officers investigated a car-to-car, drive-by shooting.
As they headed along SE 162nd Avenue near Haig Street, on Sunday, October 18, just after midnight, the driver of a car told officers that someone began shooting at the car in which he, his girlfriend, and the woman’s 6-year-old daughter were riding in the Centennial neighborhood.
Dispatched at 12:14 a.m., East Precinct officers located the vehicle – and, indeed, it had “damage consistent with gunfire”, as Sergeant Allen put it. “The driver told officers that the suspect vehicle then passed his vehicle and fired from the front; when the victim made a turn to try to get away, the suspects fired into the side of the vehicle.”
Law enforcement officers are looking for the person who shot up this car. PPB provided images
While there were at least five bullet strikes to the victim’s car, and one of the bullets was lodged into the seat directly behind the little girl, neither she nor the adults were injured.
“No suspect information is being released at this time,” Allen said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact PPB Assault Detectives at 503-823-0400 or crimetips@portlandoregon.gov, and reference case #20-315551.
October 19
‘Vending from vehicle’ leads to Lents drug and gun bust
Checking on a man thought by a citizen to be dealing drugs along SE Powell Boulevard, officers call for cover after they learn he’s in possession of far more than a couple of baggies of pot.
Not all police incidents take place at night. This one happened a little past noon on October 19, when an alert neighbor alerted PPB East Precinct officers that people in a vehicle were making odd “stops” along SE Powell Boulevard, in the area that divides the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods.
During the 1:03 p.m. dispatch, officers were told that a caller to the 9-1-1 Center reported that they’d seen an occupant of the vehicle make several exchanges with pedestrians, and believed those were drug deals.
“When officers arrived, they located the suspicious vehicle, and watched as a subject walked away from the vehicle at a quick pace; then a different male subject slid into the driver’s seat,” PPB Public Information Officer Melissa Newhard reported.
Officers find two 9mm pistols, a Glock 9×9 and SCCY Firearms CPX-2 – as well as cash, heroin, and methamphetamine – in this “rolling pharmacy”. PPB provided images
The man trying nonchalantly leave the area was brought back to the vehicle. “Officers learned he was a felon in possession of a firearm,” informed Newhard.
Officers recovered two 9 mm handguns from the vehicle, along with 41.8 grams of heroin, 7.9 grams of methamphetamine, and many suspected stolen items, such as cell phones, tablets, power tools, and expensive clothing.
“More than $6,500 in cash was found both on the subject’s person and inside the vehicle,” remarked Newhard.
Facing six felony charges is 28-year-old Brandon Thompson.
Officers arrested 28-year-old Brandon Chase Thompson, and he was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 2:54 p.m. the same afternoon, on two charges of delivery of a controlled substance, two charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Theft 1, two charges of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm, and two charges of Delivery of a Controlled Substance Near a School.
At his arraignment, Thompson learned that a kindly judge dropped several of the charges – including peddling drugs near a school, although one had been nearby – but he’d still be facing weapon, drug, and theft charges. Thompson remains in custody at MCDC in lieu of $135,000 combined bail.
October 21
Rider of stolen bike brandishes pistol at officers in Madison South
Police performed a “traffic stop” on a stolen motorcycle – which nearly turned a shooting.
What started as an attempted “Traffic Stop” of a motorcyclist on October 21 at 9:11 p.m. became unexpectedly dangerous to officers.
What caught the attention of North Precinct officers was a car that had been very closely following a motorcycle on NE Fremont Street. Both vehicles slowed near 90th Avenue as officers approached the motorcycle rider.
“The motorcycle operator then ran into a nearby residence,” explained PPB Public Information Officer Newhard. “Soon after entering the residence, the operator of the motorcycle came back out of the house, and approached the car that had been following him.
“The operator of the motorcycle then got into the vehicle that had been following him and pointed a handgun at officers,” described Newhard. “He then ordered the female driver out of the driver’s seat, and into the front passenger seat before fleeing from the traffic stop in the car.”
Officials say they’re looking for a Mitsubishi Lancer similar to this one (the image is not of the actual car). WIKI Commons image
The motorcycle the man left behind turned out to be stolen, Newhard further disclosed.
Anyone seeing a white Mitsubishi Lancer, with Washington license plate BNV0608, is asked to call 9-1-1.
© 2020 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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