On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 4:32 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Sylvan Heights Condominiums in the 7500 block of SW Barnes Road near Portland. Deputies were told that 36-year-old Eric Lane was at the location and had a felony warrant for his arrest related to a parole violation. Deputies also learned that Salem Police had probable cause to arrest him for robbery in the first degree, coercion, and assault in the fourth degree, all related to a domestic violence incident that occurred approximately ten days earlier. Deputies were told that Lane might also be armed with a handgun he used during the incident in Salem.
When deputies arrived, they contacted Lane, who was uncooperative. Within a few minutes of contacting Lane, he climbed up on the roof of the three-story condominium he was in and began threatening to kill himself.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Negotiations Team and Crisis Negotiations Unit responded to the scene to assist.
Negotiators attempted to communicate with Lane by using a loud hail speaker and giving him several phones, but he initially refused to talk. After being on the roof for approximately two hours, Lane brandished a handgun and pointed it at his head. He later began responding to negotiators.
Over the next several hours, negotiators continued communicating with Lane.
At 11:40 p.m., negotiators talked Lane into coming off the roof peacefully. Lane laid his gun down and came down off the roof on his own. He was then taken into custody by deputies without incident.
During the incident, a reverse 911 was utilized to ask nearby residents to shelter in place.
Lane was transported to the Washington County Jail, where he was lodged on his felony warrant and additional charges.
