Joshua Lee Smith is facing numerous charges after attempting to run over a Portland Police Officer, ramming a Portland Police vehicle, eluding police, and causing a serious injury wreck.
On Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:19a.m., two uniformed Central Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) officers were investigating a suspicious, suspected stolen vehicle in the area of Southeast 35th Place and Southeast Cora Drive in the Creston-Kenilworth Neighborhood. The officers discovered that the vehicle, a black 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, was occupied by a man. They also determined that the truck was stolen out of Portland. Despite being told he was being detained, the suspect started the truck and backed into the NRT officers’ unmarked police vehicle behind him. The suspect then drove forward, trying to hit one of the officers with the truck. When the officer tried to move out of the way, the suspect steered toward the officer. The officer jumped in front of his parked vehicle for protection, but the suspect rammed the back of it, pushing the PPB vehicle forward. The officer was unhurt.
The NRT officers radioed for assistance as the suspect eluded toward Southeast Holgate Boulevard. Another officer checking the area located the suspect driving on Southeast Woodstock Boulevard at Southeast 44th Avenue. The officer initiated a traffic stop but the driver eluded. The suspect again sped off in a reckless manner and officers lost sight of him.
Moments later, officers came upon the suspect vehicle after it crashed head-on into another vehicle at Southeast 72nd Avenue and Southeast Tolman Street. The force of the crash sent the suspect vehicle up into a yard. The suspect jumped out and ran on foot. The crash injured the driver of the victim vehicle, and officers summoned paramedics. That driver was treated at the scene and was not transported. Officers gave her a ride home and she will seek medical care later.
Officers set up a perimeter and K9 responded to help track him. He was arrested within 3 minutes hiding in a backyard nearby.
The suspect, Joshua Lee Smith, 41, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle (felony), Attempt to Elude Police on Foot (misdemeanor), Reckless Driving, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver with Injury (felony), Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver with Property Damage (misdemeanor), Assault in the Third Degree (2 counts), Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (2 counts), Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and an arrest warrant.
