UPDATE: Information About Lents Neighborhood Incident Investigation

Portland Police Badge

August 18, 2022 15:27

The shooting involved three members of PPB, one sergeant and two officers.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating concerns related to doxing and threats to Portland Police Bureau (PPB) members and/or their families related to recent officer-involved shootings. There are credible security threats to officers involved in recent shootings and therefore, PPB is withholding the name of the involved members during the pendency of the doxing investigation. Once the investigation is completed, the security threat will be reassessed. PPB will release the name of the members involved in the shooting when the threat no longer exists.

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###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###

A wanted man has been taken into custody after an officer involved shooting in the Lents Neighborhood.

On August 16, 2022, just after 8:00 pm, Portland's Focused Intervention Team (FIT) was conducting a mission to arrest a wanted man on several federal and state warrants associated to gun crimes, and charges of sexual assault. The individual is identified as 49-year-old Robert Connelly.

When members of FIT attempted to arrest Connelly in the 8200 Block of Southeast Lambert street, he pointed a gun at them. In response, officers fired their weapons at Connelly. After the shooting, Connelly ran into a nearby business and barricaded himself inside. Members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded to the scene. Ultimately, Connelly was convinced to surrender peacefully. Connelly was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Burglary in the First Degree, Menacing with a Firearm (3 counts), Unlawful Use of a Weapon (3 counts), Escape in the Second Degree and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Nobody was injured during this incident.

"Once again, our officers have been put in harm's way while attempting to keep our community safe. I'm grateful for their hard work and heroism, and that they get to return safely to their loved ones tonight. I’m also proud that their dedication and vigilance has led to this violent offender being taken off of our streets," stated East Precinct Commander Erica Hurley.

Per policy, the Portland Police Homicide Unit is on scene and investigating. If anyone has information about this incident and has not already spoken to police, please contact Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@portlandoregon.gov or Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 22-220929.

Additional information will be released at the direction of investigators.

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, including the initial response, resources requested, tactics used, and post shooting actions. The case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

The Portland Police Bureau directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer involved shooting may be found at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/656780 .

Once the entire investigation and legal process is complete, the investigative files and any grand jury transcripts will be posted on the Bureau's Open Data page. Information available about past officer-involved shootings can be found here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/76940

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