SERT activated in NW Portland after standoff suspect found, taken into custody

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Police said they activated their Special Emergency Reaction Team in Northwest Portland after locating a wanted suspect in connection to a standoff on Monday.

KOIN 6 News Reporter Ariel Iacobazzi was on the scene and confirmed with Portland police that a suspect was taken safely into custody.

The Portland Police Bureau activated the SERT response on Wednesday afternoon near Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Hoyt Street. By 4:40 p.m., the standoff was over.

Police said the activity was in connection with someone who was involved in a previous standoff on Monday night in which a suspect had been armed with knives.

On Wednesday evening, Portland Police Chief Bob Day explained he “made the decision to make this arrest a priority” after believing the suspect posed a risk to himself and the community.

“By bringing in additional resources, prioritizing this, we were able to bring this to a safe conclusion with no injuries. And that’s the outcome we desire any time we have to use force or inderdict behavior, we want to try and do that at the lowest level possible,” Day said.

Sgt. Kevin Allen, a PPB spokesperson, explained during a media briefing at the scene the events leading up to the suspect’s arrest.

The person, who has not yet been identified, was occupying a tent near NW 21st and Hoyt, Allen said. Some streets were blocked off while the SERT, Crisis Negotiation Team and other officers moved in. The SERT team used their vehicles to surround the tent so the suspect could not run, prioritizing getting him “contained,” Allen said.

There were no injuries during the course of the arrest of the suspect, who is currently being transported to jail. However, officers did make use of tear gas (OC canister and CS gas) and a police robot during the operation, Allen said.

“Know that the number one priority of the Portland Police Bureau is the sanctity of life,” Chief Day said. “And we will always look to prioritize that in all that we do. And that includes everyone’s safety and the value of everyone involved.”

Portland police said that around 10 p.m. Monday night, they backed away from a suspect “armed with two large knives and a large can of pepper spray” following an hours-long standoff because his “aggression was only towards officers on scene.” At the time, authorities said they were working on a plan to take him into custody “at a later date.”

KOIN 6 News is working to learn more about the incident and we will update this story when more information becomes available.