Portland police shoot, arrest I-84 gunman

A Portland police officer shot a man who was pointing a gun at passing cars on an Interstate 84 off-ramp, and the ensuing standoff with the wounded suspect led to a long Labor Day closure of the freeway.

The suspect, identified late Monday as Denorris Laron McClendon, 27, was treated at a Portland hospital, then taken to the Multnomah County Jail, where he was booked on a dozen counts of menacing, two counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of second-degree disorderly conduct.

Police said he’s due for arraignment Tuesday, and more charges could be added later.

Portland police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said McClendon ran from the freeway after he was struck by a bullet, and he collapsed on a nearby street.

“Officers began talking with the man, who refused to comply with commands and indicated he wanted officers to shoot him,” Simpson said.

Police negotiators got McClendon to surrender. Relatives of the wounded man told reporters during the standoff that he has struggled with mental health issues.

The incident began shortly before 10 a.m., when North Precinct officers responded to the 122nd Avenue off-ramp from I-84 eastbound on the report of a man walking along the ramp, armed with a handgun, pointing at passing cars. Other callers said it appeared the man was trying to carjack drivers on the ramp, police said.

An officer arrived in the area and the suspect pointed the gun at the officer, then ran through traffic on the freeway. Numerous officers arrived in the area and all freeway traffic was shut down.

At some point, near the freeway, an officer fired shots and struck McClendon, who ran off the north side of the freeway and collapsed in the 11200 block of Northeast Fremont Street.

Officers began talking with McClendon, who refused to comply with commands and indicated he wanted officers to shoot him.

The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded and SERT was able to safely approach the man, using an armored vehicle, and take him into custody and render medical aid, officers said.

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who had contact with McClendon Monday on I-84 or elsewhere.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Chris Traynor at (503) 823-0449, christopher.traynor@portlandoregon.gov; or, Detective Bryan Steed at (503) 823-0395, bryan.steed@portlandoregon.gov.

The incident happened just three days after a federal judge accepted a settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the city of Portland on reforms intended to improve the way police deal with mentally ill people. The Justice Department found during an investigation that Portland police engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force when dealing with such citizens.

Simpson said the reforms played no role in resolving Monday’s situation.

“We’ve had crisis negotiators for a lot longer than all that,” he said. “It’s pretty standard protocol.”

The drama began shortly before 10 a.m., when callers reported that a man was walking along the ramp with a gun and it appeared he was trying to carjack motorists, Simpson said.

The man pointed the gun at police and ran through freeway traffic, Simpson said. At some point, an officer fired shots and struck the man.

Police said the name of the officer who fired will be released Tuesday.

Police closed the section of freeway during the standoff and investigation, complicating travel plans on the busy holiday. The freeway reopened at about 2 p.m.

As is standard in all officer-involved shootings, homicide detectives responded to investigate the incident.

The involved officer will be placed on paid administrative leave until the completion of the investigation, as is standard protocol.

Police haven’t yet said if the man’s gun, recovered next to him, was real or a replica. A woman shot by police last week at a gas station near Albany, Oregon, displayed a gun that turned out to be a replica.

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