Discover why so many police officers were called out – in large numbers – to two different incidents in these two outer East Portland neighborhoods …
At these two “Suspicious” situations, dozens of Portland Police Bureau officers responded to outer East Portland neighborhoods — sometimes to wait; other times to spring into action.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
More and more frequently these days, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications [dispatchers at the “9-1-1 Center”] have been sending Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers out on calls simply described as “Suspicious”.
Some of these incidents have ended up being shootings, fights, or burglaries – and perhaps officers hear the actual nature of the situation they’re facing via in private radio transmissions.
There were two such “Suspicious” calls on Thursday evening, September 12 – each one sent a lot of officers to events that took place within hours of each other – and, only 0.7 mile from each other, too.
Lents neighborhood | 7:08 p.m.
Officers flood the street near Eastport Plaza to a ‘Suspicious–with Weapon’ call
Using the PA system built into his patrol SUV, an officer hails an individual whom they’ve been told may have shot a gun in the neighborhood — and is inside a residence on this street.
On September 12 at 7:08 p.m., at first only two officers were sent to this “Suspicious–with Weapon” call. They were sent to the intersection of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses and Bush Street – the northern boundary of Eastport Plaza.
But, when the number of gathering officers swelled to 17, including PPB East Precinct District officers, the PPB’s new “Drone Squad”, and a police dog “K-9 Team” – this incident warranted investigating and East Portland News arrived as well.
All is quiet along this neighborhood street, except for the loud-hailed demand for the allegedly-armed subject to come out of the house
Once we in the area, it became clear that the incident was actually taking place four blocks to the east of the announced location. Officers had closed off SE 86th Avenue, between Lafayette and Bush Streets. A PPB cruiser was parked just north of SE Rhone Street, sideways in the street, facing west.
Starting about 8:30 p.m., an officer began using his vehicle’s PA system to “loud-hail”, calling to and addressing a female by name, announcing that she was under arrest, and demanding she come out showing empty hands. After numerous attempts to make contact, no one came out of the home and surrendered to the officers.
Instead of deploying “flash-bangs” or teargas and then storming the house, as one might expect – suddenly, all the squad cars broke formation and silently drove off.
Officers involved in this incident gather in the parking lot of the Cinemark Century Eastport Plaza 16.
But, the officers didn’t go far. The officers all pulled into the Cinemark Century Eastport Plaza 16 theater parking lot. There, the officers left their vehicles had discussed the matter for about 15 minutes – then they did leave the area.
“Officers responded to reports of a suspicious person with a weapon,” confirmed PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner to East Portland News the following day.
“Officers determined a woman was firing a gun in the neighborhood, and may have shot out a car window,” Benner continued. “Officers determined where the woman lived and attempted to get her to come out of the house.
“That attempt was unsuccessful; and they decided to disengage – for everyone’s safety,” Benner reported. “They will re-evaluate.”
After their debriefing session in the theater’s parking lot, several of these officers race off to their next call – not far away – to the north.
If you have information about this incident, send it by email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, and reference Case No. 24-233614.
Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood | 9:19 p.m.
A dozen officers converge, responding to another ‘Suspicious’ call
At the very rural intersection of SE Clinton Street and 85th Avenue, officers are sent to another “Suspicious” situation.
As officers drove away from the theater’s parking lot in the last incident, another call came in, sending many of them racing off, with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring, just 0.7 miles north to SE 84th Avenue and Division Street.
This incident – in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood – was dispatched as a “Suspicious Subject, Vehicle, or Circumstance”, sent 12 officers into the area.
Again, the attention of the officers was actually focused a couple blocks away from the original location – to the intersection of SE Clinton Street at 85th Avenue.
With hands raised, this subject surrenders to police.
A police dog was barking and officers were on high alert. Within minutes a male subject was taken into custody.
Asked about this incident by East Portland News, PPB Public Information Manager Benner told us, “Offices responded to reports of suspicious people running. Officers located them, and took them into custody.
“They [the running people] may be connected to a burglary in the area; it’s not terribly clear yet,.”
After this arrest, officers talk with one another about the incident, before heading off on their next dispatch of the evening.
Should you be able to help investigators shed light on this particular incident, send information by email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, and tell them it’s about Case No. 24-233694.
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Commentary
Sometimes there’s thrilling action, other times officers see no clear outcome from the work they are called on to do while on duty. PPB officers respond as swiftly as they are able to the incidents they are sent to – the first step of law enforcement.
It’s the detectives who follow up on cases, and the prosecutors who take it from there when there is cause to do so. But, the on-our-streets District officers in our police force are always the first-responders we count on when something happens in the city.
© 2024 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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