Two suspects face felony charges after officers seized a pistol modified to fire fully automatically.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 4:43p.m., Portland Police officers assigned to the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) conducted a traffic stop at Northeast 74th Avenue and Northeast Lombard Street on a vehicle occupied by a 16-year-old wanted on a menacing case and linked to multiple gun-related crimes. During his arrest, officers found a semiautomatic handgun outfitted with an aftermarket auto-sear switch that made the pistol capable of fully automatic fire.
The 16-year-old was booked into the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts), Unlawful Possession of Firearms (2 counts), and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code).
The driver, Demaria D. Preston, 23, was found with an illegally possessed revolver and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code).
Both suspects were referred to services under the Portland Ceasefire program.
For years, Portland Police officers have seized pistols with auto sears attached, which make them capable of firing an entire 17-round magazine in less than half a second. The devices are widely available for purchase online. A handgun with an auto sear switch attached fits the definition of a machine gun under United States federal law and are unlawful to possess under most circumstances. The penalties for possession of an unregistered machine gun in the United States are up to a $250,000 fine and prison sentences of up to 10 years. PPB does not keep statistics on how many such firearms are seized, but anecdotally, officers regularly encounter them.
The Bureau’s Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) work in partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) on a focused deterrence strategy to reduce gun violence called Portland Ceasefire. This citywide strategy centers on collaboration among Portland’s Community Safety Division and Office of Violence Prevention, City leaders, the Portland Police Bureau, and community groups.
