Press Release

The man wanted following an armed standoff on Monday is in police custody facing numerous criminal charges.

The suspect arrested this afternoon is identified as Raul Nava, Jr., 44. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on his arrest warrants.

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***Original Message Below***

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at approximately 1:51 p.m., PPB's Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) responded to the area of Northwest 21^st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street. The teams were there to facilitate the arrest of a 44-year-old man who was involved in an armed stand-off with Central Precinct officers in the same area earlier this week.

Officers closed Northwest 21^st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street to ensure safety of the public. Some businesses were evacuated as a precaution. Officers notified the school across the street of the police activity, and a PPB School Liaison Officer responded to the school to ensure active communication with school staff. The school secured its perimeter, allowing the students and staff to continue their normal day inside. At the end of scheduled classes, students were released on the south side of the school, away from the police activity.

SERT moved in and utilized armored vehicles to surround the tent, which ensured the suspect could not run away from officers again. Officers announced themselves and tried to convince the man to surrender, utilizing CNT to communicate with him. Numerous attempts were not successful, so some tools were used in a careful, coordinated fashion over time. Those tools included a flash-sound diversion device, a K9 unit, police robots, OC gas, and CS gas. The tools used were successful in prompting the suspect to surrender. SERT was able to safely take the suspect into custody at 4:25 p.m.

The man was transported to the hospital for an evaluation under police guard, and he will be booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on his outstanding arrest warrants, including a newly signed warrant for Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Mace in the First Degree, Escape in the Third Degree, Menacing, and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.

PPB NRT requested an emergency abatement of the campsite, which happened immediately. Inside the tent, officers located and seized evidence, including two knives and a can of bear mace (photos).

This recent interaction with the man began on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 5:58 p.m., when Officers spotted him near Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street, knowing he had a warrant for felony Identity Theft and another misdemeanor warrant for Resisting Arrest. As officers approached and told him he was under arrest, the suspect sprayed bear mace at the officers and tried to ride away on a bicycle. Officers were able push him off the bike, but he displayed a knife and

lunged at the officers. Officers deployed a conducted electrical weapon (Taser) twice, which was briefly effective but he was still able to get up and run. The man tried to elude police officers on foot toward a restaurant at Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Irving Street where diners were sitting outside. Officers evacuated the restaurant, secured the area, and sent a shelter-in-place notice to nearby businesses and residents. Officers trained in enhanced crisis negotiations attempted to de-escalate the man, who had barricaded himself against a door with a table.

After a couple of hours, the Incident Commander made the decision to deescalate the situation by strategically disengaging, as it was determined that the presence of police was escalating the suspect's behavior. The suspect remained noncompliant if police remained on-scene but agreed to leave his location and retreat if officers left. The decision also took into account that less-lethal options had been used without success, and continuing engagement could lead to a greater use of force.

Given that officers were familiar with him and his usual location, the Incident Commander determined that PPB personnel would develop a plan to arrest him at a future time that would be safer for both him, the officers involved, and the greater public.

Although officers withdrew from direct contact, some continued monitoring the suspect from a distance to ensure he did not pose a threat to public safety.

"I understand the concerns of local businesses and residents who sought a more timely resolution," said Chief Bob Day. "However, these situations are complex, and we always try to make thoughtful decisions that balance the severity of the situation with potential negative outcomes. Our top priority is always a safe resolution for everyone involved. I'm grateful for all the work that went into ensuring a safe resolution."

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