The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) continues its efforts to reduce gun and traffic violence in East Multnomah County. On the evening of September 11, deputies teamed-up with Gresham Police Department officers to perform a public safety mission, which yielded 45 traffic stops, 5 arrests and 1 firearm seizure.
This mission was a part of MCSO’s Enhanced Public Safety Initiative (EPSI). Launched in April 2022, EPSI is a data-driven violence reduction strategy focusing on reckless driving, speeding, impairment, gun violence and violent crime, particularly in communities and high crash corridors east of 162nd Avenue.
Since these efforts began, the missions have resulted in 276 traffic stops, 61 arrests, 9 recovered stolen vehicles and two recovered firearms, and deputies are credited with saving a person’s life by reversing a drug overdose.
During this weekend’s mission, a deputy spotted a black sedan driving at a high-rate of speed and swerving through lanes of traffic. While attempting to stop the vehicle, the driver of the sedan accelerated and turned toward the deputy’s car. The vehicle crashed head-on into the deputy’s car, which also had a K9 inside. The suspect got out of the vehicle and ran east into the Mount Hood Community College campus. A perimeter was set up, but he was not caught.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help related to this suspect. If neighbors have surveillance video at their homes or businesses in the area of Mount Hood Community College, they are asking for the video to be reviewed. Particularly, cameras in the area of NE Kane Drive and NE 23rd Street in Gresham between 1:45 and 2 a.m. on Monday, September 12, may have caught the suspect running or hiding. If your video footage shows suspicious activity during that time frame, leave a message on a confidential tip line at 503-988-0560.
Neither the deputy nor the K9 suffered any injuries.
“I’m grateful that our deputy and K9 were not hurt as a result of this suspect’s reckless and careless actions,” Sheriff Mike Reese said. “Missions, such as these, interrupt violence and deter criminal activity, and they have made a positive impact in the communities we serve, and we will continue the missions into the future.”
