December 29, 2023 10:29
After an investigation by Homicide Detectives, the suspect, Jessie Garza III, 30, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a warrant for Murder in the First Degree with a Firearm, Coercion with a Firearm, Burglary in the First Degree with a Firearm (2 counts), Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts). The charges are related to the December 14, 2023 homicide of Richard Newman in the 16500 block of Southeast Bush Street.
He was also booked on probable cause of Attempted Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon for shooting at police officers. Additional charges are possible.
Information about the related homicide is available here:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=513213 ###PPB###
***Original Message Below***
The suspect who fired shots at police in the Centennial Neighborhood has been taken into custody and the shelter-in-place order is being rescinded.
On Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 8:09p.m., East Precinct responded to a report that a wanted suspect was seen in the area of Southeast Division Street and Southeast 143rd Avenue. The named suspect was an adult male wanted related to a recent homicide case. Officers located the suspect leaving an apartment and driving away in a vehicle. Officers deployed spike strips and deflated the tires of the vehicle. The suspect drove to an apartment in the 2700 block of Southeast 148th Avenue and was challenged by police officers. He produced a handgun and began firing shots at the officers. Officers moved to positions of cover and the suspect ran into an apartment. He continued firing numerous shots at police from inside the apartment.
Due to the immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to police and community members, officers surrounded the apartment, closed area roads and sidewalks, and activated the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). The Air Support Unit and small Unmanned Aerial System (drone) operators also assisted.
Incident Commanders activated the Public Alerts system to notify nearby community members of the incident with an order to stay inside, lock doors and windows, and stay away from external windows.
At 12:03a.m., the suspect came out of the apartment and surrendered to police. He was arrested. The suspect will be identified after he is booked on charges.
No shots were fired by police officers, and no injuries have been reported.
The Gresham Police Department and East Metro SWAT assisted in the response.
Portland's community notification system is called PublicAlerts. Visit
https://www.publicalerts.org to sign up. PublicAlerts sends information by text, email, and voice message about how to stay safe during an emergency.
###PPB###
***Original Message Below***
The Portland Police tactical team is responding to an incident in the Centennial Neighborhood in which shots have been fired by a suspect at police. No officers have been injured.
The Special Emergency Reaction Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team have been activated for the incident.
The incident is happening on Southeast 148th Avenue just south of Southeast Division Street. Portland Police officers have set up a perimeter and roads are closed to all traffic between Southeast Division Street and Southeast Woodward Street, Southeast 148th Avenue and Southeast 153rd Avenue. Within that perimeter, the Public Alerts system has been activated. Community members have been asked to shelter in place, meaning remain inside with doors locked, stay away from windows.
The PIO is responding to the scene. Additional information will be released as appropriate.
###PPB###
*************
Email News Releases
Get News Releases from the PPB directly to your inbox.
Open Data Portal
Datasources from the Portland Police Bureau.
Social Media
Social Media and Podcasts from PPB.
Media Relations
Police Media Resources
Strategic Communications Unit
PPBPIO@police.portlandoregon.gov
Phone: 503-823-0830
1111 SW 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97204
Recent Headlines:
PPB News Archives
© OpenStreetMap contributors