UPDATE#4: Officers Involved In Use Of Force Identified (Photo)

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August 06, 2023 12:30

The officers involved in the use of deadly force in Gresham on July 22, 2023, are identified as Officer Justin Thurman, a 16 year veteran of Portland Police assigned to East Precinct, Officer Timothy Hoerauf, a 12 year veteran assigned to the Specialized Resources Division, and Officer Seth Wingfield, a 7 year veteran assigned to North Precinct. The officers remain on administrative leave.

This investigation remains ongoing and is being led by the East County Major Crimes Team and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

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">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">https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/76940 .

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

The past week in the City of Portland was atypical in the number of high-profile critical incidents that occurred. The first of these incidents was a shooting at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. Due to the rarity and outsized impact of this incident, PPB is releasing a more detailed timeline of how events unfolded based on the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) entries.

It’s important to note that the times being listed may not reflect exactly when the event occurred, but when the information was entered into CAD by dispatchers or 911 calltakers from the Bureau of Emergency Communication (BOEC). It is also important to know that the entire CAD printout is 122 pages long, beginning with 911 being called and ending with the officer involved shooting in Gresham. Specific, time-stamped details of broadcasted information is covered in the first 24 pages. While the following is not a record of the event in its entirety, main points of interest are displayed. Information related to the officer-involved shooting will be released when appropriate, following the investigation and Grand Jury Process. PPB will release the names of the officers involved within 15 days, per policy.

10:55 Threats call to 911.

10:59 Two officers and a sergeant are dispatched to Legacy Good Samaritan. The information officers knew at the time was that hospital security was with a man who was making “physical threats to staff.” Security provided a partial description of the suspect.

11:04 First arriving Officers broadcast that they are on-scene.

11:10 Dispatch broadcasts that a hospital Security Officer is down.

11:11 Officers ask for resources to lock down all entrances and exits.

11:13 Officers obtain a description of the suspect, which is then broadcasted over the air.

11:16 PPB Sergeant requests a citywide police response.

11:18 Portland’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) activated.

11:17 Officers are making their way to the 5th floor shooting scene. They are not hearing or seeing indicators of an active shooter/active threat incident.

11:20 Officers radio that the victim is receiving emergency medical care.

11:23 Dispatch continues to broadcast shots fired calls and sighting information received from individuals inside the hospital. The first information that the suspect was seen leaving the hospital on a “moped” headed southbound on Northwest 21st Avenue.

11:26 Hospital Security was able to review security footage that showed the suspect leaving the hospital eight minutes prior. This would mean he left the hospital at approximately 11:18 a.m.

11:29 A passerby flags down an officer saying a possible suspect may have gone into the Fred Meyer on Burnside.

11:31 Resources begin to shift toward the Fred Meyer, and officers broadcast that they are evacuating the building.

11:35 Officers have been able to review the hospital security footage and broadcast an updated description of the suspect and the clothing he was wearing. Photographs from the security footage is also disseminated to all Bureau members.

11:41 News release sent by Public Information Officer (PIO) notifying the community of the shooting and that tactical teams were responding and the hospital is locked down. The release also states that initial information suggests the suspect left the hospital and the police perimeter is NW 23rd Avenue and NW 21st Avenue, NW Northrup to NW Lovejoy St. The release was also posted to social media.

11:45 Bureau members begin researching and then broadcasting possible destinations the suspect might be headed to based on information gleaned from reports of previous police contacts.

11:53 Media staging location established.

12:09 Security Officer Bobby Smallwood succumbs to his injuries.

12:09 Portland Police Bureau Homicide Detectives are paged to respond.

12:13 Friends and family members of hospital staff and of patients begin to arrive in the area. Reunification area established at Northwest 22nd Avenue and Northwest Northrup Street.

12:29 Officers are able to review video footage from the Fred Meyer that reveals the suspect was not caught on camera and did not enter the building.

12:29 An alert East Precinct Sergeant takes the initiative to begin checking some of the locations identified as possible locations the suspect might flee to based on his previous police contacts. Upon reaching one location in the area of Northeast 138th Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard, the sergeant sees an individual matching the suspect’s picture and description hiding in some bushes. He begins broadcasting this information over the radio and requesting assistance to challenge the potentially armed homicide suspect. The sergeant sees the suspect get into the passenger seat of what appears to be a white Ford van or ambulance. The van drives off. The sergeant follows the van, giving updates until it is eventually stopped at Northeast 181st Avenue and Northeast Everett Court in Gresham.

###PPB###

***Original Messages Below***

On Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 10:57 a.m., Officers responded to a call of a shooting inside Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. Officers believed this had the possibility of being an active shooter incident, so they converged on the hospital from all corners of Portland in a full-city response to address the shooter, assist with a possible mass casualty event, and evacuate those in harm’s way, as PPB’s training and experience dictate.

While no less tragic, after officers arrived on scene it soon became clear that instead of being an active shooter, this was a confined incident in which the suspect was no longer an immediate danger to employees and patients inside the hospital. Although investigators are working tirelessly to piece together the details of this case, a preliminary investigation confirms this was not an active shooter incident.

The victim of the shooting inside the hospital is identified as 44-year-old Bobby Smallwood. The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his manner and cause of death to be homicide by gunshot wound. Smallwood’s family has been notified of his death and they provided the attached photograph for public release.

The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Gresham Police Department, with the assistance of the East County Major Crimes Team. The Gresham Police Department will be the lead on information related to that incident.

Photograph: Bobby Smallwood

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

The investigation into the confrontation involving the hospital shooting suspect continues at Northeast 181st Avenue and Northeast Everett Court in Gresham. The investigation into the officer involved shooting is being led by the East County Major Crimes Team. Three Portland Police officers used deadly force in this incident. Per Bureau policy, the identity of Bureau members involved shall be released within 15 days, absent a credible security threat. No other police agencies were involved in the use of deadly force.

During the investigation, Northeast 181st Avenue is closed between East Burnside Street and Northeast Glisan Street, and it will likely remain closed for several hours.

If anyone has information about the officer involved shooting in Gresham, please contact Detective Fred Huffman at Frederick.huffman@greshamoregon.gov or Detective Lindsay Friderich at Lindsay.friderich@greshamoregon.gov or call the tipline at (503)618-2719 or (888)989-3505.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s staff was briefed by the PPB Chief’s office.

In addition to the East County Major Crimes investigation, 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 .

###PPB###

***Original Messages Below***

A hospital security guard was killed in a shooting at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital, and the suspect is deceased after an officer-involved shooting in Gresham.

On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 10:57a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a report of a threat inside Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital where a person was seen armed with at least one firearm. When officers arrived, they were notified by hospital security staff that shots had been fired. Officers began searching for the suspect, while hospital staff began shelter-in-place protocols. Officers learned that the security guard was wounded, and they worked with hospital staff to begin treatment.

Officers citywide responded to assist, including North Precinct and East Precinct. The Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) also responded.

Officers also learned that the suspect had left the hospital. Additional officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood and attempted to locate the suspect. Some information was developed that the suspect may have gone to the Fred Meyer store, 100 Northwest 20th Place. Numerous officers responded to the store, began an initial search, secured the perimeter, and evacuated employees and customers. A comprehensive search was done and the suspect was not found. The store was released to employees.

The injured security guard was transferred to a Level 1 Trauma Center, where he died despite additional lifesaving treatment efforts. No patients were hurt.

A tactical effort was made to locate the suspect, and officers determined he was in a vehicle. East Precinct and Gresham Police Officers stopped the vehicle near Northeast 181st Avenue and Northeast Everett Street in Gresham. SERT and CNT officers responded to assist with the stop, as did Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputies. During the incident, shots were fired by police. The suspect is deceased. No officers were injured.

The Portland Police Homicide Unit, along with PPB Detectives from other units and the Forensic Evidence Division, responded to the scene and are investigating. PPB coordinated with hospital staff to be sure they can continue to treat patients. Legacy Medical System staff are coordinating with hospital supervisors. The hospital shelter-in-place was lifted about 4:15p.m.

If anyone has information about this incident, please contact Detective Jeff Sharp at Jeff.Sharp@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-9773 or Detective JD McGuire at Jeff.McGuire@police.portlandoregon.gov and please reference case number 23-192301.

“This is a sad day for the staff at Legacy Health, and our hearts go out to the family, friends, and coworkers of the employees affected by today’s tragedy,” said Chief Chuck Lovell, who responded to the scene. “By all accounts, hospital staff and law enforcement did great work responding to this incident, and I’m grateful for the coordinated efforts by all.”

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is responding to a report of a shooting at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital 1015 NW 22nd Avenue. The hospital is locked down. Initial information is that the suspect has left the hospital. Officers are searching for the suspect.

The area is closed. All traffic is blocked between NW 23rd Avenue and NW 21st Avenue, NW Northrup to NW Lovejoy St.

The PIO is enroute to the scene. Media staging will be NW 22nd Avenue and NW Northrup St.

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