Read why this outer East Portland incident could have turned out tragically; the carjacker shot at a neighbor trying to stop the theft …
Within minutes after “stolen car” and “shooting” calls erupted from the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, officers converged on streets just off SE Foster Road.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
What might have been part of an all-night crime spree in north Clackamas County ended before dawn in east Portland’s Pleasant Valley neighborhood, early Wednesday, December 27, when a man tried to steal a “steamer” – a car left running to “warm up” in a driveway – along SE 139th Avenue, just south of Foster Road.
As Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers responded, another call came in to the 9-1-1 Center reporting gunshots heard near SE 138th Place, in a subdivision just south of Foster.
“Arriving officers contacted people with information about the stolen vehicle and reported gunfire, while additional officers searched the area for suspects believed to be involved with both incidents,” recounted PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Chris Burley.
Looking for evidence, officers block off streets near where gunshots are heard — following an attempt to steal a car.
“Searching the area, officers located an unoccupied 2017 Volkswagen Passat and an unoccupied 2013 Volkswagen Beetle near SE 137th Avenue and Foster Road,” Burley said.
A quick check showed the Volkswagen Passat was reported stolen to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office; and, the Volkswagen Beetle was the vehicle reportedly taken from the driveway of the nearby home that morning.
As the investigation unfolded, officers came to believe that three suspects had arrived in the area of SE 139th Avenue in the stolen Passat.
“While there, a suspect entered the unoccupied Beetle that was running, being ‘warmed-up’, when a neighbor confronted the suspect,” Burley said. “After this confrontation, the suspect reportedly ran from the vehicle and fired a gun.”
While officers do find evidence of gunfire, the suspects evade capture.
Officers did find evidence of gunshots in the area, but did not locate any of the three suspects; officials declined to provide suspect descriptions.
“At this time there are no reports of injury or property damage as a result of the gunfire,” Burley said.
Anyone who witnessed this shooting or who possess video surveillance footage of the shooting is asked to contact Portland Police Bureau Tactical Operations Division’s Gun Violence Response Team at 503-823-4106.
Or, contact Crime Stoppers of Oregon offering cash rewards up to $2,500 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous: CLICK HERE to open their contact page.
© 2018 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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