Armed man who threatened Papa Murphy’s employees was pepper-sprayed multiple times, police say

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man was taken into custody Wednesday evening after police said he caused a Southeast Portland Papa Murphy’s to evacuate after screaming at employees and arming himself with kitchen knives.

Just after 6 p.m., officers responded to the 4400 block of Southeast Woodstock Boulevard on reports of a man in the street screaming, blocking traffic and throwing garbage at passing vehicles.

While police were on their way to the scene, officials said the man had gone into a nearby Papa Murphy’s and threatened employees, “rushing at them behind the service counter and causing significant damage.” According to PPB, the manager evacuated the store and locked the door, trapping the man inside.

Arriving at the scene, officers attempted to go in the store to detain the man, identified as 38-year-old Joseph Tyler Thompson. However, authorities said he came out of the back kitchen area with two large knives and rushed at them. The officers then closed and locked the doors, preventing Thompson from leaving the building.

When he tried to escape through broken windows, officers pepper-sprayed Thompson several times before it took effect. Soon after, officers from the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team and Crisis Negotiation Team worked to calm him down.

Over an hour after police responded to the scene, PPB said officers convinced Thompson to hand away his knives through the hole in the glass.

According to PPB, Thompson was taken into custody at around 8 p.m., then taken to a hospital where he was treated for glass cuts on his hand.

At the hospital, Thompson was criminally cited for first-degree criminal mischief, menacing, as well as second-degree disorderly conduct.