UPDATE #4: PPB Releases Additional Information about August 12 Incident

Label: Press release

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The Portland Police Bureau is releasing video footage of a use of deadly force incident earlier this month and identifying the member involved.

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, the Portland Police Bureau is releasing body-worn camera footage related to a recent police use of deadly force incident. The incident occurred as officers were pursuing (on foot) a suspect armed with a large hunting knife who was wanted for threatening employees with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).

The video summary of the incident, including body-worn camera footage from other officers who were involved in the pursuit of the suspect, can be found here. The video includes a narrated summary followed by unedited footage from officers' cameras. Viewer discretion is advised.

Body worn cameras are worn at mid-torso level and capture the line of sight from that perspective. It is important to note that the camera lens is fixed and does not capture everything seen or perceived by the member.

In addition, in this incident, the member involved, Portland Police Lieutenant Brent Maxey, a 24-year veteran, was not wearing a body worn camera. Lieutenant Maxey was in the area following a meeting. He was driving an unmarked vehicle and was not in uniform. Lieutenant Maxey remains on administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The Bureau's policy on body worn cameras can be found here.

Incident summary

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 1:55 p.m., two officers assigned to the Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team were conducting follow-up investigation into an unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and criminal mischief case. They did not know the suspect's name, but they spotted him on Northwest 16^th Avenue near Northwest Overton Street. They told the suspect he was under arrest, but he ran from them.

The officers reported that they saw the suspect had a knife in one hand, described as a large blade hunting knife. Numerous officers responded to assist and worked to help contain the armed suspect.

However, the suspect ran for several blocks in an attempt to evade the police and avoid being taken into custody. Officers saw the suspect with the knife running toward members of the public, including a mother and her child.

During the chase, the suspect, still armed with the knife, ran toward a tire repair shop in the 1200 block of Northwest 19^th Avenue.

Lieutenant Brent Maxey, who was in the area following a nearby meeting, struck the suspect with his police vehicle at low speed in the tire shop parking lot. No other officers captured the event on their cameras, however in the footage, Lieutenant Maxey can be seen entering the parking lot just before the use of force.

A PPB traffic crash reconstruction team revealed that the police vehicle struck the suspect at a closure speed between three to five miles per hour. The impact caused the suspect to fall briefly, but he immediately jumped up and kept running away. He did not appear to be injured.

The suspect broke into a nearby business and barricaded himself in the basement storage area. Officers surrounded the area and evacuated the business. He refused to surrender, and during the incident destroyed a police drone and damaged a police robot. The incident was not resolved for several hours until an officer used pepper spray and a K9 was used. The suspect hit the police K9 multiple times with a metal pipe. The K9 was able to re-engage and apprehend the suspect so officers could take him into custody.

The suspect, Joshua R. Kuras, 33, was arrested, treated for minor injuries, and booked into jail. A knife was recovered and seized as evidence.

According to Portland Police Bureau Policy, using a vehicle to strike a suspect is a Category I use of force because a motor vehicle used in that manner is capable of causing death or serious physical injury. Therefore, the Portland Police Detective Division and Internal Affairs Division are investigating the event as a use of deadly force.

As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, including the initial response, resources requested, tactics used, and post shooting actions. 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.

###PPB###

***Original Messages Below***

UPDATE #3: Additional Details about Northwest District Incident

Additional details are being released about the Wednesday incident in the Northwest District Neighborhood, including information about the previous case involving PBOT employees, and the police uses of force.

On Monday, July 20, 2026 at 4:13 p.m., Portland Police Officers assigned to Central Precinct responded to a report of a threat with weapon call at Northwest 18^th Avenue and Northwest Thurman Street (26-210756). They learned that an employee with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Parking Patrol, an adult male, was approached by a man with a knife. The suspect used the knife to cut the tire on his marked city vehicle, then opened the vehicle door while holding the knife, before riding away on a bicycle. The victim had taken a photograph of the suspect, which was shared with PPB personnel. The suspect was not identified at the time. The victim was not physically hurt.

On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 1:55 p.m., two officers assigned to Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team were conducting follow-up investigation in the case when they spotted the suspect on Northwest 16^th Avenue between Northwest Overton Street and Northwest Pettygrove Street. They told the suspect he was under arrest, but he ran from them. The officers reported that they saw the suspect had a knife in one hand, described as a large blade hunting knife. Numerous officers responded to assist and contain the armed suspect. Officers saw the suspect running toward members of the public, including a mother and her child. After several blocks, the suspect ran toward a tire repair shop in the 1200 block of Northwest 19^th Avenue still armed with the knife. A Portland Police Lieutenant struck the suspect with his police vehicle, causing the suspect to fall down. But he kept running away and did not appear to be injured.

The Portland Police Bureau is investigating multiple police uses of force during this incident per policy. Information about force policy, investigation, and review is available on the PPB website. Uses of force under investigation in this case include:

-Deployment of Pepper Spray (Oleoresin Capsicum)

-K9 Deployment (dog bite)

-Use of a police vehicle to strike a suspect

According to Portland Police Bureau Policy, using a vehicle to strike a suspect is a Category I use of force because use of a motor vehicle used in that manner is capable of causing death or serious physical injury. Therefore, the Portland Police Detective Division (Homicide Unit) is investigating that event as a potential use of deadly force. The lieutenant who struck the suspect is 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 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 26-235171.

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.

The involved member will be identified and police body-worn camera footage is expected to be released within 14 days of the incident.

Additional information will be released as appropriate.

###PPB###

***Original Messages Below***

UPDATE #2: Armed Suspect who Assaulted Police K9 Booked into Jail

The suspect who ran from police through the Northwest District Neighborhood with a knife, broke into a building, and assaulted a police dog has been booked into jail. Following the investigation, and after he was cleared medically at the hospital, Joshua R. Kuras, 33, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Burglary in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (2 counts), Interfering with a Law Enforcement Animal, Attempted Animal Abuse in the Second Degree, and Escape in the Third Degree.

Additionally, a new photograph of the bladed weapon is being released.

The investigation is continuing.

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

K9 Harcos

Shelter in Place Lifted, Suspect In Custody After Assaulting Police K9 with Pipe

The shelter-in-place alert was canceled and the suspect is in custody after assaulting a PPB K9 and damaging police equipment. On Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 1:55 p.m., two Portland Police officers in a partner car were working in the area of Northwest 16^th Avenue and Northwest Northrup Street when they saw a possible suspect in a previous menacing and vandalism investigation. They called in additional resources and a short time later tried to arrest the suspect. He ran from officers and was seen holding a large bladed weapon in his hand.

Numerous officers responded to assist, including several that were already working a preplanned mission to address drug dealing. They were able to surround the suspect, who ran into the backyard of a home in the 1800 block of Northwest Overton Street. Officers contained him inside that single yard, and made contact with the people in the home. The main level was a business with people inside. The basement level was converted into an apartment, but it was quickly confirmed to be vacant.

Because the suspect was contained, the officers were able to slow down and begin de-escalation techniques. Those included bringing in additional officers, an Incident Commander, K9, drone operators, members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), members of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and a police robot operator.

Using those tools, officers were able to confirm that the suspect had broken into the apartment. They used loudspeakers to order him out. He eventually tried to break out a side window and was challenged. After uses of force including chemical munitions and a K9 deployment, he was safely taken into custody with minor injuries. He was transported in police custody to the hospital for a precautionary medical check.

The shelter in place alert was cleared at 4:44 p.m.

The suspect destroyed a police drone and damaged a police robot. During the arrest, the suspect assaulted the police K9, Harcos, with a metal pipe. However Harcos was able to subdue him and did not suffer any significant injuries.

A bladed weapon was recovered at the scene and seized as evidence.

The suspect will be identified at a later time.

The Portland Police Bureau is grateful for our partners at Oregon State Police for their assistance in this case.

PPB is investigating multiple police uses of force during this incident per policy. Information about force policy, investigation, and review is available on the PPB website.

Portland's community notification system is called PublicAlerts. Visit the website to sign up. PublicAlerts sends information by text, email, and voice message about how to stay safe during an emergency.

##PPB###

***Original Message Below***

Shelter in Place Alert Sent in Northwest District Neighborhood

A shelter in place alert is being issued for residents near Northwest 18th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street after an armed suspect ran from officers and is believed to be hiding in the area.

Published

August 12, 2026 3:05 pm

The suspect was seen armed with a knife while eluding police on foot (case number 26-235171). Officers are asking anyone inside the police perimeter of Northwest Overton Street to Northwest Northrup Street, Northwest 18^th Avenue to Northwest 19^th Avenue, to stay inside with doors and windows locked. Numerous officers are in the area and using police resources such as K9 units and drones.

More information will be released when appropriate.

###PPB###