UPDATE: PPB Releases Additional Information About In-Custody Death

The Portland Police Bureau is releasing additional information about the in-custody death on September 2, 2026.

The Medical Examiner has determined the individual died of suicide by stab wounds. Out of respect for the man who died and his family, his identity will not be released.

Resources

Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable.

Lines for Life is also available 24 hours a day. Call or text 988.

Lines for Life YouthLine is free peer-to-peer help, support and crisis for youth up to age 24. Call 877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863.

The Multnomah County Behavioral Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888.

If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis please visit Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's Urgent Walk-In Clinic. The clinic is located at 4212 SE Division and is open from 7am to 10:30pm, weekdays. Services are free and available to individuals of all ages.

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

In-Custody Death Investigation Underway After Man in Crisis Injures Self, is Tased While Being Taken into Custody

On Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:47 p.m., Portland Police Officers assigned to East Precinct responded to a report of an adult male who was cutting himself at a home in the 7800 block of Southeast Tolman Street. Portland Police Officers on the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team (ECIT), who have advanced training on communications, were dispatched. When officers arrived, they saw the man had barricaded himself inside and they reported that he was stabbing himself. Officers made a plan to try to take the man into custody on a Police Officer Hold and get him medical attention, but the man refused to come outside. Officers reported at least one deployment of a Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW, or Taser). The man was taken into custody and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded and transported him by ambulance; however, he died before arriving at the hospital.

The cause and manner of death will be determined at a later time by the medical examiner.

According to PPB Policy, the man was in police custody when he died, so the incident is being investigated as an In-Custody Death. PPB's Homicide Unit is on scene investigating the case (26-257393).

During the investigation, Southeast Tolman Street is blocked between Southeast 77^th Avenue and Southeast 80^th Avenue.

"The sanctity of life is a core value for Portlanders and for us at the Portland Police Bureau. This was a tragedy in our city, which is true any time there's a loss of life," said Chief Bob Day, who responded to the scene. "The family and our community deserve a full and complete investigation into what happened, and I offer my thanks to all of the responding officers and investigators who are putting in long hours to make sure that happens."

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 composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office was notified and will continue to be consulted regarding this investigation.

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 26-257393.

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

The Portland Police Bureau recognizes that a member's use of deadly force or the death of an individual while in police custody requires impartial and timely review. It is the policy of the Bureau that uses of deadly force, death as a result of member use of force, and in-custody deaths, whether on or off duty, be investigated with the utmost thoroughness, professionalism and impartiality so as to determine whether member actions comport with applicable law and Bureau policies and training.

The Bureau acknowledges that the investigations of these incidents are of critical importance to the involved member, the Bureau, and the community. The Bureau entrusts the Detective Division with the responsibility to conduct the criminal investigation of the incident objectively and thoroughly. Concurrently, the Professional Standards Division (PSD) shall also conduct an administrative review of each such incident.

Additional information will be released as appropriate.

Resources

Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable.

Lines for Life is also available 24 hours a day. Call or text 988.

Lines for Life YouthLine is free peer-to-peer help, support and crisis for youth up to age 24. Call 877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863.

The Multnomah County Behavioral Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888.

If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis please visit Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's Urgent Walk-In Clinic. The clinic is located at 4212 SE Division and is open from 7am to 10:30pm, weekdays. Services are free and available to individuals of all ages.

###PPB###