Officer Involved Shooting Investigation‏ Under Investigation

The Major Crimes Team comprised of detectives from law enforcement agencies within Multnomah County has been assigned to investigate. The Gresham Motor Officer was not injured in this incident.

Salem-News.com

(GRESHAM, Ore.) - A police officer in Gresham was involved in a shooting Thursday evening, after he said a driver he was pursuing on his police motorcycle, drove his vehicle straight toward him.

Gresham Police say it began at 5:13 Thursday evening when a Gresham Police Motor Traffic Officer became involved in a pursuit of a vehicle that was driving recklessly near NE 162nd Ave and NE Holladay Street.

The pursuit traveled through the neighborhood until the suspect vehicle, a Red Toyota Tercel with Washington license plates, reportedly slid to a stop at the intersection of NE 166th and NE Wasco Street.

The officer says that as he approached, the suspect vehicle drove directly at him, striking his motorcycle.

The officer reports firing into the suspect vehicle, after which the vehicle then sped away. Moments later, police found the vehicle was abandoned at NE 168th and NE Wasco. Witnesses told police the driver, a clean-cut white male approximately six foot tall wearing a dark colored jacket had run after crashing into some shrubbery.

A person matching the description was seen running on the grounds of H.B. Lee School located approximately three blocks from the abandoned vehicle, investigators say. Officers took the subject into custody near NE 169th and NE Hassalo Street. At this time the subject is being considered a person of interest.

The Major Crimes Team comprised of detectives from law enforcement agencies within Multnomah County has been assigned to investigate. The Gresham Motor Officer was not injured in this incident.

No further details will be offered at this time. It is anticipated that additional information will be made available during business hours Friday.