Parkrose daytime burglar busted

You might be surprised to learn to what lengths police went, to arrest an outer East Portland burglary suspect who broke into an occupied apartment …

A large police presence grows in the Parkrose neighborhood, after a man bursts into an occupied apartment – and won’t leave.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When a resident was startled by a man breaking their apartment in the Parkrose Neighborhood, near of NE 109th Avenue and Wygant Street, a large number of Portland Police Bureau (PPB) North Precinct officers responded on Monday, January 13, at 2:09 p.m.

Here’s why the response was so intense: The suspect, who was unknown to the occupant of the apartment, forced his way in and refused to leave. The resident managed to get out and called the police.

The large police response brought a total of 17 units, including a PPB Canine unit, and several Special Emergency Reaction Team officers (SERT).

“No one else was in the apartment. Officers attempted to contact the intruder; however, he had barricaded the door with an unknown object and refused to communicate,” a PPB spokesperson reported.

Then began a 90-minute standoff.

Portland Police SERT and ECIT officers formulate a plan to get the intruder safely into custody.

“After many attempts at ‘calling the suspect out’ failed, officers breached the front door. . . and, once inside, discovered that the door had been barricaded with a heavy bookcase,” the police official said. “The suspect was found in the kitchen of the unit, and he threatened to throw cans at the officers!”

One of the Bureau’s Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team (ECIT) officers began talking with him. “The suspect was ultimately de-escalated, and taken into custody at 3:36 p.m.,” the spokesperson said, adding that no one was injured during the incident.

Facing two Class A Misdemeanor charges is the intruder in the incident, 21-year-old Rociel Vazquez. MCDC booking photo

The suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Rociel Vazquez, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) 4:44 p.m. on a charge of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

At his arraignment, Vazquez learned that, in addition to the Trespass charge, he’d face one count of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, both Class A Misdemeanors. A judge dismissed the Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle charge.

Vazquez remains lodged in the MCDC in lieu of $5,000 combined bail.

This wasn’t the first time Vazquez has had a brush with the law; in May 20, 2019, he was arrested by Gresham Police, charged with Interfering With a Police Officer. In that case, a kindly judge decided to dismiss the case and released Vazquez back into the community.

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