Rocky Butte shooters nabbed by police

INCLUDES AERIAL PURSUIT VIDEO | Here’s a fascinating look at the Portland Police Bureau specialty teams in action in the Madison South neighborhood – as seen from their ‘eye-in-the-sky’, as well as on land. But, the shooters they caught are already out of jail …

Officers from several Portland Police Bureau units stream into the Rocky Butte area of Madison South, looking for a pair of joyriding gunman, shooting up the neighborhood.

Story and photo by David F. Ashton

When Madison South neighbors called the 9-1-1 Center, reporting hearing gunshots on NE Rocky Butte Road on Tuesday evening, February 13th, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were dispatched there at 7:08 p.m.

At the same time, K9 (police dog), Air Support Unit (ASU), Traffic Division, and Focused Intervention Team (FIT) officers were also sent to Rocky Butte.

Watch this fascinating video, provided by the Portland Police Bureau, made by their Air Support Unit, high above Rocky Butte:

The first officers to arrive were in the PPB’s ASU, and reported seeing a person firing shots from the passenger side of a pickup truck on NE Rocky Butte Road. As the pickup’s driver proceeded down Rocky Butte Road, ASU’s Tactical Flight Officer saw additional shots being fired out of both sides of the truck – some of them at nearby homes.

On the ground, when officers spotted the truck, and tried to stop it – but the driver instead hit the gas and “eluded in highly dangerous manner, driving at high speed, swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic, and running through traffic control devices”, as a PPB official put it.

-2 The PPB’s ASU helps ground-based officers locate the shooter’s truck, but can’t stop it.

Officers on the ground were attempting to implement intervention techniques, and an officer did successfully deploy spike strips to deflate the truck’s left rear tire. The driver continued driving on the flat tire until he lost control and spun out at NE 81st Avenue and Fremont Street.

Overhead, the PPB’s “eye-in-the-sky” watched, as two suspects bailed out of the truck and ran – but was able to give the officers below real-time tracking information – which led to their capture.

The shooting spree ends, after a spike strip flattens a tire on the shooters’ silver 4-door crew-cab Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. PPB image

Arrested was 23-year-old Arinoldo Bryan Cruz-Garcia of Gresham. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) early the next morning, February 14, at 4:23 a.m., charged with Discharge Firearm in the City, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle, Attempt to Elude Police on Foot, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Reckless Driving, and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (alcohol).

Although Cruz-Garcia was booked on two Felony and five Misdemeanor charges, a kindly judge released him, at his arraignment, back into our community. Release Reason: Pre Trial Supervision.

This silver Ruger-57 pistol – and a bottle of booze – and another unidentifiable pistol are found in the truck’s cab. PPB image

And, 21-year-old Ahanu Mesdrain Johnson, of Fairview, was also booked into MCDC on February 14, at 4:23 a.m. on charges of Discharge Firearm in the City, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public, Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

While Johnson was charged with one Felony and four Misdemeanor charges, he also was released back into our community by our criminal justice system a day after his arrest, on February 15. Release Reason: Close Street Supervision.

If you have information about this case, or have found gunfire damage from this incident, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: FIT, and make reference to Case No. 24-36450.

Comments are closed.