Portland police arrested a 27-year-old driver for allegedly threatening a police officer with his car Saturday evening.
Adolfo Beltran-Megia Jr. is accused of driving directly at a moving police SUV and slamming on his brakes at the last minute, nearly striking the police car.
The officer was responding to a welfare check around 6 p.m. in Northwest Portland when he noticed a black 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix driving directly towards him and then stopping abruptly, police said.
The man circled around and then sped up towards the officer’s SUV again, police said. The officer tried to drive away while calling for backup. The man continued to drive at the officer, police said.
The officer attempted to stop the driver while waiting for more police to arrive, but the man kept driving, police said. Police followed him and used spike strips to deflate his tires. They eventually pinned his Pontiac at Northwest Naito Parkway and Couch Street.
The man tried to drive away but was trapped. He then surrendered. No one was injured in the pursuit, police said.
Beltran-Megia was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of second-degree attempted assault and attempted assault on a public safety officer, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, attempting to elude police and DUII.
In 2021, Beltran-Megia was sentenced to 180 days in prison for assaulting a man at the Hotel Alder – an alcohol- and drug- free apartment building run by Central City Concern. The man told police he had asked Beltran-Megia to turn his music down and that “the next thing, I was on the floor,” according to an affidavit.
Beltran-Megia was convicted of assaulting a public safety officer in Umatilla County in 2017.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
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