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@Multcoso
Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies arrested a man after a string of home and car break-ins in Wood Village Saturday afternoon.
Just before 5 p.m., on July 30th, deputies received a report that a couple of people were trying to break into a parked car at the Wood Village Town Center on NE Glisan Street. When deputies arrived, they attempted to contact one man who was seen actively trying to enter the car. When he saw the deputies, he ran east through the shopping center parking lot.
While checking the area for the suspect, a deputy was flagged-down by a resident in a mobile home park in the 23300 block of NE Arata Road. The woman stated that a man, matching a description of the suspect, entered her home and demanded she give him water. While the deputy was talking with the woman, they heard glass breaking at a different home nearby.
Deputies then witnessed the suspect run out of the property and jump a fence, returning to the mobile home park where he had been prior. As deputies tracked the suspect, a resident stated that the suspect had broken into their home and that his wife was still inside. Deputies then heard the woman start screaming. Deputies quickly gathered, entered the home and confronted the suspect. They took him into custody, while helping the woman get to safety.
The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Johnnie Lewes Thomas. During their investigation, deputies learned he also attempted to steal a car. Thomas was charged with:
- Two counts of burglary in the first degree
- One count of attempted burglary in the first degree
- Three counts of criminal trespass in the first degree
- Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
Deputies also learned that Thomas had a current felony warrant issued out of Washington state for a child sex abuse case. After being taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation, Thomas was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center, where he remains in custody.
Neighbors were shaken by the events, but relieved Thomas was apprehended. During the search, the temperature was 101 degrees. The Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge the deputies’ quick actions, endurance and professionalism during this response, and for bringing closure to a community with an arrest.
Image description: A home’s window broken by the suspect
This morning, at approximately 2:02 a.m., MCSO deputies were dispatched to a traffic crash involving a vehicle and bicyclist near the intersection of NE Halsey Street and NE Fairview Blvd in Fairview.
A witness reported that the driver had initially stopped, then quickly left the scene. A responding deputy spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the involved car and initiated a traffic stop. The driver was pulled over and was arrested. The driver is identified as 56-year old Robert Lee Wilson. He was later lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Paramedics arrived and pronounced the bicyclist dead on scene. Due to the severity and criminal nature of the crash, the East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) was called to perform the investigation.
Preliminary investigation shows that two bicyclists were riding eastbound on NE Halsey Street, approaching NE Fairview Parkway, when Wilson’s vehicle crossed into the bike lane and stuck one of the bicyclists.
The victim’s name will not be released until notification of next-of-kin.
No further information will be given at this time
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Just after 4 p.m., on Friday, July 29, 2022, Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the Corbett and Gresham Fire Departments responded to the Sandy River near Dabney State Park for a report of a water rescue. The caller reported that they had witnessed a man enter the water by himself and suddenly begin to struggle. The caller reported that the man went underwater and had not resurfaced.
Firefighters launched rescue boats and used equipment to scale the steep riverbank to access the river. Corbett firefighters waded into the water and located the man underwater using a handheld sonar device called AquaEye. AMR lifeguards helped bring the man to the surface, and he was carried up the riverbank to paramedics.
Paramedics transported the man to an area hospital. Despite lifesaving attempts, the swimmer did not survive and was declared deceased at the hospital.
The man’s identity is being withheld until next of kin notifications are complete. No further information about this specific incident will be shared at this time.
Today’s response is the third major, multi-agency water rescue call in the Sandy River since Wednesday, July 27.
On Wednesday, a stand-up paddler fell into the water and drowned near Oxbow Park. On Thursday, at Oxbow Park, a family of three narrowly survived after being swept by the current; all three were taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. And today, unfortunately, a swimmer did not survive near Dabney State Park.
As hot temperatures are forecasted to continue through the weekend, the emergency services community is urging people who plan to go to a local river or lake, to visit a park where a lifeguard is present, such as Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale, and to wear a lifejacket at all times when swimming, floating, paddling, boating, or playing near the water. Lifejackets can be borrowed for free, (no identification required), at these locations:
- Glenn Otto Park
- Dabney State Park
- Oxbow Regional Park
- Dodge Park
- Lewis and Clark Park
The Sandy River is dangerous year-round, and the river bottom is rocky, uneven and surprisingly deep in some locations. The water may be stronger and colder than nearby rivers because the Sandy River is fed by glacier runoff from Mount Hood. Use caution when swimming in the Sandy River.
Image description: MCSO patrol vehicle at the scene of the water rescue
Image description: AquaEye sonar device in use by the Corbett Fire Department (photo taken June 2022)
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Update 7/29/22, at 3:45 p.m.:
After an extensive search, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is suspending search efforts for Daniel Tyrone Graham, 44.
A team of ground searchers returned to the area where Graham was last seen Thursday. They did not locate Graham or any signs of him. A Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office deputy launched a drone to perform additional aerial searches. These, too, were unsuccessful.
If anyone has information about Graham or knows his whereabouts, please call the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at 503-988-7300 and refer to police report number 22-30840.
Initial press statement on 7/29/22, at 10 a.m.:
Around 12:30 p.m., Thursday, July 28, dispatchers received a 911 call from a man who said he was lost near Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, near Corbett. The man stated he was in thick brush, off-trail and that he could see a series of powerlines. Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area and determined the approximate location of the man based on open source satellite imagery. Deputies called the Gresham Police Department Drone Unit to assist in determining the exact location of the man.
During this time, he was identified as 44-year-old Daniel Tyrone Graham.
Based on the landmarks provided by Graham, Gresham drone pilots were able to spot him and pinpoint his coordinates. Dispatchers told Graham to stay in place. The Green Hornets, a team of MCSO deputies specially trained in quick trail deployments, hiked to the location. When they arrived, there was no signs of Graham. Since the call with dispatchers, in which they instructed Graham to stay-in-place, there has been no additional communications between Graham and dispatchers.
For the next 12 hours, the Green Hornets continued searching for Graham, but were unsuccessful. The terrain is described as steep and variable, and the vegetation is mixed, wooded and brushy. There are no official trails. In the afternoon, temperatures in the area reached approximately 100 degrees. Extreme heat is a concern for both Graham and searchers.
Due to nightfall, trail, and weather conditions, at 11 p.m., the search was suspended.
On Friday morning, search efforts resumed. Currently, a small team of Clackamas Search and Rescue (CSAR) members and MCSO sheriff’s deputies on ATVs are in the field. Mountain Wave Emergency Communications is helping to support radio communications.
Since Mr. Graham’s first 911 call stating he was lost, there have been no additional missing persons reports filed.
If anyone has information about Graham or knows his whereabouts, please call the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at 503-988-7300.
Missing:
- Daniel Tyrone Graham, 44-year-old, Black male
- 6 foot, 200 pounds, black hair, brown eyes
- Last seen wearing a black tank top, grey shorts and Nike shoes
- We do not believe he was prepared to stay overnight.
Updated press statement on 7/27/22:
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man as 46-year-old Derek Alan Johnson, of Portland. Witnesses reported that Johnson was stand-up paddling on the Sandy River when he fell into the water and did not resurface. The ME's Office ruled the cause of death as a drowning.
Johnson was not wearing a lifejacket.
We want to acknowledge lifesaving attempts by the Gresham Fire Department, Corbett Fire Department and AMR.
We also want to recognize the Trauma Intervention Program (TIPNW) volunteers who responded to provide emotional aid, support and resources to those impacted by the traumatic event.
No further information is expected to be released.
Initial press statement posted on 7/26/22:
On Wednesday afternoon, at 2:40 p.m., Multnomah County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive person in the Sandy River, in the area of Oxbow Park.
When first responders arrived, deputies fanned out across the river bank, and firefighters with the Gresham Fire Department launched a river rescue raft.
Gresham firefighters located the person, an adult male, in the river and took him to shore to meet paramedics. Unfortunately, after a medical evaluation, paramedics declared the man dead on scene.
Further details will be shared at a later time. A PIO is not responding to the location.
On Monday, July 26, 2022, around 6 p.m., an adult in custody (AIC) was found unresponsive and not breathing in their cell at the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC). Corrections deputies and Corrections Health staff immediately provided medical care. The adult in custody, who is identified as 63-year-old Stephen Wayne Murphy, was transported to an area hospital. Murphy passed away in the hospital later that night.
Murphy was booked into MCDC in March 2022. Murphy declared during the booking process he had significant medical issues. While in custody, he received ongoing medical care.
As standard protocol, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Unit responded and is performing a death investigation in conjunction with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation remains open, and no further comment will be made at this time.
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce gun and traffic violence, Multnomah County law enforcement officers performed a traffic enforcement mission, on July 25, that netted in 58 traffic stops, 11 arrests and the seizure of one firearm. The Gresham Police Department partnered with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office (MCSO), to increase the number of deputies and officers available.
Charges of those arrested included impaired driving, elude, unlawful possession of a weapon, and various warrants. The team also responded to a report of an overdose in which Narcan was deployed to reverse the person’s overdose effects.
The mission is a part of MCSO’s Enhanced Public Safety Initiative (EPSI), a data-driven violence reduction strategy. EPSI, launched in April in response to the rise in violent and traffic-related crimes, has mainly focused on communities and high crash corridors east of 162nd Avenue.
Since these efforts began, the missions have resulted in 231 traffic stops, 56 arrests, 9 recovered stolen vehicles, one recovered firearm, and one overdose reversal.
“The violence we are experiencing in our communities is jeopardizing personal safety, devastating families, and impacting the livability of Multnomah County,” Sheriff Mike Reese said. “Proactive missions, such as these, interrupt violence and deter criminal activity, and they have made a positive impact in the communities we serve.”
Image description: Tire flattened by a spike strip used during an elude
Image description: A deputy performs a traffic stop on a vehicle without plates
One person is dead and two others were injured in a crash involving a cement truck and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Troutdale Thursday morning.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to an injury crash in the 44000 block of NW Sundial Road in Troutdale.
The Gresham Fire Department extricated the driver of the SUV using specialized machinery to cut open the damaged SUV.
LifeFlight responded to transport the SUV’s driver to the hospital. However, the driver succumbed to their injuries prior to being flown to the hospital.
The SUV’s passenger was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. The cement truck driver was evaluated on scene by paramedics.
Due to the severity of the crash, the East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) was activated to perform a crash investigation. The initial investigation shows that the driver of the SUV was making a left turn to travel south on NW Sundial Road when the two vehicles collided. The cement truck was traveling northbound.
The driver’s identity is being withheld until next of kin notifications are complete and further investigation is performed.
NW Sundial Road was closed for several hours until the preliminary crash investigation was completed. The road has since reopened and business access has been restored.
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The East County Vehicular Crimes Team consists of specially trained law enforcement members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police Department and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. VCT investigates serious and fatal vehicle crashes and crimes in Gresham, Fairview, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village and unincorporated Multnomah County.