Portland police search, unable to find man suspected of shooting two officers

By Sabrina Pierre, KGW

PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) — Two Portland police officers were shot and wounded Monday night in Northeast Portland, prompting a large police response and an overnight search for a suspect that ended without an arrest.

Officers responded shortly after 9 p.m. to a report of a suspicious person near Northeast 17th Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street, according to Detective Jon Richardson. Gunfire reportedly broke out when officers located the individual. Richardson described the encounter between the man and officers as "brief."

Both officers were taken to a local hospital and were listed in stable condition, Police Chief Bob Day said during a news conference late Monday night. He declined to say where the officers were wounded or provide specifics about their injuries, citing the ongoing investigation.

Day also would not confirm whether officers returned fire.

Police searched the Sullivan's Gulch neighborhood for several hours Monday night, deploying the bureau's Special Emergency Reaction Team and closing off a large residential area east of the Lloyd Center and north of Interstate 84. Residents between Northeast Broadway and Northeast Multnomah Street, from Northeast 15th to 21st avenues, were ordered to shelter in place with doors and windows locked.

The search ended without any arrests, and the area was reopened by Tuesday morning. Investigators said they are continuing to follow up on leads.

Police described the suspect as a white man in his mid-30s with facial hair, wearing a black baseball cap, black jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes. He was last seen carrying a black backpack and a green shopping bag and is believed to be armed with a knife and a handgun.

Authorities warned the suspect is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Day said his initial reaction to learning of the shooting was disbelief.

"When I was notified that PPB had two officers shot, I repeated it and said, 'Did I just hear you say we have two officers shot tonight?' And he said that was in fact the case," Day said. "The moments after that are certainly filled with a lot of trepidation and concern."

He said he went to the hospital to check on the officers and their families before heading to the scene.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also spoke at the news conference, calling the shooting "a stark reminder of the dangers of the job."

"We're very concerned for the officers that were shot," Wilson said. "We're happy to hear that they're in stable condition, and we wish them a speedy recovery and we send them our prayers."

More than 60 police units responded to the scene. Dispatch records show the incident was first reported as a threat with a weapon at 8:22 p.m.

KGW crews observed a police presence outside Legacy Emanuel Hospital in North Portland, where multiple police vehicles were parked near the emergency room.

Authorities asked anyone with information, including video from doorbell cameras or other devices, to contact 911.