A suspect injured two by driving over an occupied tent in the Old Town Neighborhood in an attempt to elude police. Detectives are still seeking the suspect.
On Friday, October 28, 2022 at 3:31p.m., a Central Precinct sergeant and officer located an occupied Jeep Grand Cherokee with two people inside, both unconscious, on Northwest Hoyt Street between Northwest Broadway and Northwest 6th Avenue. The black 2015 Jeep had no license plates, but was confirmed stolen by its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It had been stolen from Southwest 6th Avenue and Southwest Clay Street 6 days earlier.
Officers positioned police vehicles on the front and back of the stolen Jeep to minimize the opportunity for the suspect to attempt to elude. However, when the driver woke up, he started the Jeep, put it in gear, and started trying to push the police vehicle in front. He was able to push it enough to move the police vehicle. When he got his vehicle free, he drove up a curb and ran over an occupied tent on the sidewalk. The driver kept going on the sidewalk, nearly hitting others. Two people in the tent were injured. One adult male was treated at the scene. The other, a 16-year-old female, was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Her injuries were serious, but not life threatening.
While officers were attending to the injured, the suspect left the scene and has not been located. The Portland Police Major Crash Team responded along with detectives from the Major Crimes Unit.
At 5:14p.m., officers located the suspect vehicle as it was being driven over the Broadway Bridge. The driver initially refused to stop, but the driver and a passenger jumped out and ran from the 1500 block of Northeast 2nd Avenue. The passenger was arrested moments later at Northeast 3rd Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street. Officers continued their search and, at 5:38p.m., arrested the suspect driver near Northeast 6th Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street.
Detectives interviewed the suspect and determined that he was not the driver who ran over the tent and injured the two victims. That suspect is still being sought.
The driver, Michael Godfrey, 53, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (felony).
The passenger, Rafiki D. Magano, 47, had an illegally possessed handgun. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
