PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Police are looking for a suspect they say tried to run over an officer before escaping custody early Tuesday morning in the St. Johns neighborhood.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded to a reported shooting just before 1:15 a.m. near the corner of North Fessenden Street and N Marcum Avenue. Multiple witnesses reported hearing a gunshot, one of them seeing a flash from the gun.
When officers arrived, PPB said they found a person they believed was involved in the shooting, but the suspect rammed a patrol car with a truck. The suspect then allegedly tried to run over an officer who was on foot, and the officer fired at him.
The suspect then hit another officer’s car and a pursuit ensued, police said. Shortly thereafter, PPB said they lost the suspect in the St. Johns neighborhood. He has still not been found.
Authorities said they don’t know if the suspect was injured from the officer’s shot and no police were hurt. Police said they informed Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office of the incident.
Homicide detectives are investigating, although police said it is per policy and did not state anyone had been killed.
Mayor Ted Wheeler released the following statement to KOIN 6 News:
“I am grateful that no officers were injured this morning and hope the suspect will be found soon. Under the direction of the District Attorney, the Portland Police Bureau will conduct a thorough review of the incident as part of the use of force review process, I look forward to reviewing the findings.”
N Fessenden Avenue is closed from N Columbia Way to N Marcum Avenue during the investigation, which is expected to last several hours.
Tuesday’s shooting follows an officer involved shooting on Sunday, when police say they responded to Southeast 148th and Southeast Clinton after a reported fight between a man and woman.
Police say they tried to arrest the man who police said shot at them. Officers said they shot back killing the suspect. “It’s been a long couple days…it’s beginning to be frustrating for the officers,” Officer Derek Carmon of PPB told KOIN 6 News.
PPB Chief Lovell sent KOIN 6 News a statement calling the last three days “trying”:
“In two separate incidents, suspects drove at officers who were on foot outside of their vehicles. This led to one being seriously injured after being struck. One officer and a sergeant had to be seen at the hospital after they attempted to arrest what turned out to be a very dangerous individual. And this morning, an officer inside his vehicle was rammed by a fleeing suspect.”