Stories

Yes, there were police searching backyards up and down Morris Street, with a dog, Sunday evening.  From what I heard, they were looking for a person. I'll be looking for more information (they asked me to stay inside in order to not confuse the dog), but meanwhile, here are my live tweets from my front window (in reverse chronological order).

UPDATE 12/15/09: I still have no official information, but according to Jade's comment below, the search encompassed several streets, including Morris, Stanton, and Fargo, and she was told that police were searching for a robbery suspect.

Just observed 20+ Portland police vehicles surrounding Soobie's strip club near SE 122nd and Stark. Police were also blocking off sections of Stark Street. There's no word yet on what's going down; I'll update this as soon as I find out.

Also, just down the street at E. Burnside and 122nd, a car had veered off the road onto the eastbound MAX tracks.  A tow truck was on scene to move the car; Tri-Met was running shuttle buses in place of trains. No police were at the scene; this may or may not have been related to the problem at Soobie's.

UPDATE 12/13/09: I have an email in to Portland Police Public Information Officer Mary Wheat and am hoping to get more information soon.

UPDATE 12/15/09: Ms. Wheat had no information about this incident, and suggested it was just a traffic stop. That jibes with what I heard from a newsroom source on Twitter, who said that it appeared to be just a major traffic stop, and that the police did catch a "really bad dude". Still seems weird, because the police cars I saw were definitely...

An armed robbery last night at the Red Apple Bar and Grill near NE 162nd and Sandy ended with the suspect being shot by police near SE 172nd and Pine. Police responded to the robbery around 5:30 p.m., but the suspect had fled.  The suspect was then spotted by police near 162nd Avenue and E. Burnside, and pursued to the area of SE 172nd and Pine, where he ran from his car.

Police set up a perimeter and called in the SERT team because they believed the suspect was armed. Meanwhile, another subject was found in the car and taken into custody. The suspect was eventually located in a shed near SE 172nd and Pine, and after a confrontation was shot by an officer. He is currently in stable condition at a local hospital.

Update 8/25 2 p.m. - the Portland Police Bureau has issued an updated press release, including the following information:

"Portland Police attempted to communicate with the suspect in the shed and deployed tear gas.  Witnesses then saw the suspect run from the shed with a gun and he was then shot...

Portland Police have a 34-year old male in custody as a possible robbery suspect after a police chase and SERT action near NE 122nd and Halsey this morning.

According to local residents, a police perimeter was set up in the area shortly after 8:00 this morning. Some residents were allowed to leave the perimeter, but none were allowed back in until after 12:00 p.m., when the police had taken the possible suspect into custody and decided to release the perimeter.

Portland Police spokesperson Mary Wheat made a brief statement around noon, saying that "this individual was taken into custody in a back yard near 126th and Hassalo," and that they are still searching for a possible second suspect, but that this person is not a safety concern for the general public at this time.

UPDATE - 8/11/09 10:30 p.m. The Portland Police Bureau issued a news release today without many new details. According to the release, the incident began around 7:40 a.m. on August 11, when police attempted contact with two people in a vehicle near...