PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A parole violator seen climbing on trains in a Northwest Portland rail yard held police at bay for 4 hours until he was Tased and arrested Saturday afternoon.
Police were called to the rail yard, 3930 NW Yeon Street, shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday. They said they saw Matthew Joseph Medlin jump from the top of one rail car into the open bed of another rail car and then refused to come out.
Medlin, 32, was known by police from previous encounters, officials said. They knew him to be uncooperative, and they said they saw him inject meth while they tried to talk with him.
Over a 4 hour period, various crisis negotiators spoke with Medlin. Eventually he was Tased while holding “make-shift weapons,” police said.
He was first taken to a hospital for treatment, and then to the county jail. Along with the parole violation, he faces 2 counts of 1st-degree criminal mischief, 2 counts of resisting arrest, 2 counts of 2nd-degree criminal trespass, interfering with a peace officer and disorderly conduct.