Wanted suspects arrested in Argay Terrace

Find out why concerns about these two convicted men – one of them already out of jail – brought out backup support during their arrests …

Many officers converge along a street in the Argay Terrace neighborhood of outer East Portland to arrest wanted suspects.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

A gunshot rang out during early evening hours of August 23 in the Argay Terrace neighborhood. Officers from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Gang Enforcement Team (GET) officers started looking more closely at these two-story duplex townhomes along NE Prescott Drive, just west of NE 130^th Avenue – a few of them are owner-occupied; but they’re mostly rentals.

“At 6:47 p.m. that evening GET officers responded to the report of a fight and a single shot fired at this location, and located one fired bullet casing,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Chris Burley.

More officers arrive, before arrests are made.

“During that investigation, officers arrested one juvenile male after he ran from the backyard of the townhouse, and attempted to hide a handgun that was recovered, and seized as evidence,” Burley said.

Based on GET investigations, officers believed two wanted parole-violators were at the townhouse where the commotion occurred, and returned on August 26 with arrest warrants in hand.

“Upon returning to the property, an officer also located additional evidence of gunfire in the backyard,” Burley reported. “Based on observations made by officers during both visits, and knowledge of past criminal activity associated with the wanted suspects, supervisors believed specially trained officers should respond to assist with the arrests.”

Some officers “gear up” as the arrest team moves in.

NE Prescott Drive was closed off for blocks in either direction as more officers were called to the area, including the Washington County Tactical Negotiation Team – but that team was cancelled after the suspects gave up and were arrested without incident, Burley said.

58-year-old James M. Siberz was arrested for violating the terms of his parole, but was released from jail days later. MCDC booking photo

Arrested was 58-year-old James M. Siberz, who was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on August 26 at 10:08 p.m. for an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for a parole violation in connection with a previous Assault in the Second Degree conviction.

Siberz was released back into the community by a judge on August 30; Release Reason: “Time Served on a Sentence”.

Still in custody is 19-year-old Dennis R. Spencer, who was also arrested on parole violation charges. MCDC booking photo

Also arrested was 19-year-old Dennis R. Spencer, who was booked into MCDC that evening, also logged in at 10:08 p.m., on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant in relation to his post-prison supervision for an earlier conviction of Assault in the Second Degree, and for an Oregon Youth Authority warrant.

Spencer remains in custody at Inverness Jail without bail, on a Multnomah County “Hold”

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