On Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 10:04 a.m., a Portland Police Bureau (PPB) motorcycle officer on assignment to the PPB Traffic Division was made aware of a man driving a pickup truck that had entered the closed streets of the parade route. The officer saw parade goers running out of the street and heard them screaming, trying to get his attention. The officer then saw the truck driving east on Northeast Weidler Street ahead of him and he attempted to stop the truck.
The officer, on a motorcycle, was using the lights and sirens but the driver of the truck refused to stop and went south on Northeast MLK Jr. Blvd. The officer then pulled alongside of the truck and told the driver to pull over but he still refused. The officer then drove ahead of the truck to warn pedestrians until it appeared the driver was going to hit him and the officer got out of the way. The officer then again attempted to get in front of the truck to stop or slow the truck down and the driver suddenly turned left onto Northeast Wasco Street and drove directly at families sitting on the curb, waiting for the parade. The officer witnessed several people in danger of being struck by the vehicle as it left NE MLK JR. Blvd.
The officer continued to pursue the truck, which then ran through a barricade, causing volunteers to quickly get out of the way to avoid being hit. The vehicle left the parade route but continued to elude police officers. The PPB Air Support Unit took over following the truck and was able to update other responding officers. The truck eventually stopped near the intersection of Northeast 24th Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street, where the driver was taken into custody.
Investigators later learned the driver came from Northbound I5 and went around two Oregon Department of Transportation trucks that were being used to close the ramp on to Northeast Weidler Street. The driver of the truck had to go up into the ivy on the hill side of the ramp to make it around the trucks.
The driver was identified as 42-year-old Sidney Sean Mecham of Portland. Mecham was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Disorderly Conduct, Attempt to Elude, Reckless Driving, and Hit and Run (from an earlier, unrelated case). Mecham was also cited for Driving While Suspended, Failure to Obey a Police Officer, and for no insurance. Mecham’s vehicle was towed due to no insurance.
