Officers Injured in Fight With Suspect, Deadly Force Investigation Underway

On Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:11 a.m., Portland Police officers assigned to Central Precinct were dispatched to a report of a "Threat with Weapon" call on Northeast 33^rd Avenue over Interstate-84. They were told that a suspect had a metal pole and was hitting passing vehicles with it. Officers were told the suspect had walked away. They did an area check for him in the neighborhood and did not initially find him and no crime victims came forward to make a police report. About 20 minutes after officers cleared the scene, they gained information that the suspect may be in the area of Oregon Park, 700 Northeast 30^th Avenue. Two officers responded and located the suspect. Almost immediately, at about 10:27 a.m., the suspect began fighting with the two officers. At 10:29 a.m., the officers alerted dispatch and other officers over the radio that they were in a fight and that the suspect was trying to get an officer's firearm out of his holster. Numerous officers responded to assist, and at 10:34 a.m., officers stated that they were in custody with the suspect.

Preliminary investigation indicated that during the struggle over the officer's gun, which lasted nearly 7 minutes, an officer put the suspect in some kind of neck hold. The suspect did not lose consciousness and did not appear to suffer any significant injuries. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance as a precaution to get a medical evaluation. The suspect, an adult male, remains in police custody at the hospital.

Both officers involved were also transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. One officer had a hand injury and the other a head injury.

Based on the reported level of force used by an officer in this incident, members of the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division's Homicide Detail responded to perform an investigation into the force used. Pursuant to Portland Police Bureau policy, "When a member knowingly uses physical force that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by applying pressure on the throat or neck of the other person. This also includes the carotid restraint hold or lateral vascular neck restraint. A neck hold shall be considered deadly (lethal) force."

There were no reports that any officer discharged a firearm during this incident.The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office was contacted and will continue to be consulted regarding this investigation.The officer involved in the neck hold is being placed on paid administrative leave pursuant to Police Bureau policy. As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is comprised of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.This is an active and ongoing investigation. If anyone has information about this case and has not already spoken to police, please contact detectives at [email protected] or call 503-823-0479 and please reference case number 25-266458.

The Portland Police Bureau's procedure following a deadly use of force by an officer may be found here.

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