Police ‘Gang Team’ confiscates guns – one, packed by a 13-year-old

Look, and see where – within hours and just a few miles – how alert police officers reduced the number of illegally-carried guns in two neighborhoods …

There’s nothing like a police radio call like the report of a 13-year-old out at night … with a gun tucked into his pants.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
“Chilling” is how one Portland Crime Reduction Coordinator described the fact that a very young outer East Portland teenager was found carrying a loaded handgun in his waistband on Sunday night.

Earlier that evening, July 29, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Gang Enforcement Team officers were on the lookout for gangsters roaming in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood, near NE 102nd Avenue and Hancock Street.

At 10:15 p.m. that evening, they came upon a young man – and stopped for a chat.

“They contacted 18-year-old Gregory Sonell Spencer,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson to East Portland News. “Spencer consented to a search of his backpack, and officers located a semi-automatic handgun.”

Although police say they arrested 18-year-old Gregory Sonell Spencer for packing a pistol – he’s released the next day.

Spencer was arrested at 10:22 p.m., and booked into the Multnomah County Jail a couple of hours later at 12:19 a.m. on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the City.

But, Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) records show that, later that same day, Spencer was back out roaming mid-County streets – granted a “Court-Ordered Release” for unspecified reasons.

13-year-old male totes pistol
In an unrelated stop about an hour later, at 11:15 p.m., Gang Enforcement Team officers stopped a vehicle at SE 117th Avenue and Washington Street, in the Mill Park neighborhood.
“Officers checked the occupants of the car for weapons,” Simpson said.

“While patting down a 13-year-old boy, officers discovered he had a loaded handgun in his waistband. The boy was taken into custody, and later lodged at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home.”

Gang Team cops say this man, 22-year-old Trayontay Jones was driving a car and 21-year-old Byron Lamar Bearyman was a passenger, along with a gun-packing 13-year-old.

The driver, 22-year-old Trayontay Jones, was taken into custody at 11:15 p.m., and the other passenger – 21-year-old Byron Lamar Bearyman – was arrested at 11:45 p.m.

Jones was charged with a probation violation. and with being a fugitive – both Felony charges. He remains in custody at Multnomah County Inverness Jail.

Bearyman was charged with two Felonies and two Misdemeanors, including Parole Violation, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the City.

And, Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) records show that Bearyman was also granted a “Court-Ordered Release” for unspecified reasons.

While two of those arrested are back on the street, at least they’re not carrying guns – at least, not the same weapons, which are now secured in PPB’s Evidence Locker.

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