Portland police have cordoned off a chunk of Southeast Portland Sunday as they continue an hours-long search for a suspect who they say rammed a stolen pickup truck into an officer and an elderly woman, sending them both to the hospital.
The officer, whom the bureau has not yet named, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the elderly woman had unknown injuries, and they described her as a “community member” who was a passenger in a nearby car.
“I was upset to hear about the injury to our officer and am thankful he is alive,” said Chief Chuck Lovell in a news release. “I am also thankful to the officers who are working diligently to attempt to locate and arrest this suspect. This is another example of how dangerous our work is and highlights the commitment these officers have to serving the community.”
According to the bureau, the incident unfolded after a public safety support specialist, who is not a sworn officer, responded at 8:39 a.m. to take a report on the stolen pickup near Southeast 153rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard. When the specialist arrived, he noticed people around the pickup and he summoned an officer to the scene, police said. As the officer began to investigate, one of the suspects got into the pickup and tried to drive off, striking the officer. The pickup driver then hit the car carrying the elderly woman.
More officers arrived and soon found the pickup in the area, but the driver had run off. Police set up a perimeter from Southeast 148th Avenue to Southeast 152nd Avenue and Division Street to Stark Street. The hours-long search has included the use of police dogs and their handlers, as well as air support.
As police continue to investigate, Southeast Powell Boulevard will be closed from 152nd to 156th avenues. Police ask anyone with information helpful to the investigation to email crimetips@portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 22-198085.
— Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
