Major Crimes Team & Clackamas County District Attorney Investigating Officer Involved Shooting (UPDATE) -06/12/25

UPDATE 4; 6/12/25  3:55 PM

 

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced the conclusion of a criminal investigation related to the officer involved shooting by two Milwaukie Police Officers of Hunter Newton in September of 2024. Oregon DOJ was asked by Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth to assume all prosecutorial responsibilities arising from the investigation, which was conducted by the Clackamas County Major Crimes Team (MCT). The Milwaukie Police Department learned the grand jury returned a “not true bill,” meaning the grand jury believed criminal charges against the two law enforcement officers were not warranted.

 

We recognize and respect the decision of the grand jury and defer to the Oregon DOJ’s process regarding contact with the Newton family and subsequent release of body worn camera (BWC) footage.

 

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Hunter Newton and his family, and we recognize the deep and lasting impact this event has had. This incident also has been troubling and difficult for our officers, support staff, city employees and this community. We do not take lightly the impact a significant use of force has on so many.”  -Ryan Burdick, Chief of Police.

 

This week’s grand jury response means the criminal aspect of this incident has concluded.  As part of the use of force and policy review process, the Milwaukie Police Department will request the grand jury transcript and independent investigator’s reports from the Oregon DOJ to begin an internal administrative review of the incident.Sergeant Sanchez and Officer Akom will remain on administrative leave pending the completion of that internal review.

 

Link to Oregon DOJ statement and BWC footage: https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/clackamas-county-grand-jury-finds-insufficient-evidence-for-criminal-charges-in-milwaukie-shooting-involving-police/

 

Clackamas County major crimes team investigating Officer Involved shooting (Updated) | City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

 

 

 

 

UPDATE 3;  10/2/24 4:45 PM
 

On behalf of the Milwaukie Police Department, I want to express our sincere thoughts and prayers to the family of Hunter Newton, who is currently in the vital care of medical staff and surrounded by family and friends.

This fact-finding process is ongoing. The Milwaukie Police Department is fully committed to cooperating with outside agency investigators and the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. 

As part the Milwaukie Department’s commitment to transparency, we embraced the implementation of Officer’s body-worn cameras several years ago. We believe the moments these cameras preserve are a source of documentation, accountability, and can help bring clarity to critical situations. Milwaukie Officers were wearing body-worn cameras during this incident, and they were activated at the time of the encounter. The Milwaukie Police Department has released all body-worn camera footage to investigators and Clackamas County District Attorney Office for their use and review in this matter.  

As this is an ongoing investigation and to respect the integrity of that process, we will not be sharing further information at this time. The investigation remains active and is being conducted by the Interagency Major Crimes Team and the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. Body worn camera recordings of this incident will be shared with the community at the earliest permissible time.
 

Ryan Burdick, Chief of Police

Milwaukie Police Department

 

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UPDATE 9/30/24 5:30 AM

During this incident at least one Officer discharged their firearm and a male suspect was struck. The person was taken to a local hospital and their condition is unknown at this time, no Officers were injured and there is no continuing danger to the community. This is an ongoing investigation, further questions about the investigation should be directed to the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office.

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/clackamas-county-major-crimes-team-investigating-officer-involved-shooting

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Milwaukie OR- On 9/30/24 at approximately 12:55 AM, Milwaukie Officers were involved in a traffic investigation at the 11000 block of SE Oak St. During this investigation at least one Officer discharged their firearm. Clackamas County major crimes team and the Clackamas County district attorney's office are processing the scene. Additional Information will be shared as it becomes available.

 

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/clackamas-county-major-crimes-team-investigating-officer-involved-shooting

Clackamas County Multi-Disciplinary Team Participates In Coast To Coast Human Trafficking Interdiction. (Photo) -06/07/25

Milwaukie, OR  - On May 30th, the Clackamas County Human Trafficking Multi-disciplinary Team conducted a sex buyers and sellers sting as a part of the Our Rescue’s “Coast to Coast Operation.” This event is a simultaneous operation in various states and locations around the country, where associated agencies/advocates share intelligence, identify trafficking victims offering them supports/services and arrest traffickers.  The event was hosted by the Milwaukie Police Department with assistance from the West Linn and Wilsonville Police Departments.

 

Through various online sites and applications, decoy Officers and Deputies contacted both purchasers and sellers of sex providing a location in the Milwaukie area for the exchange to occur.

 

Purchasers of sex who arrived at the provided location were detained and interviewed. Suspects were offered the opportunity to speak with volunteers from the Epik Project then were issued citations in lieu of arrest. One suspect was lodged at the Clackamas County Jail on a parole violation warrant.

 

Sellers of sex were contacted with teams of investigators and advocates and given offered services. Sellers (victims) were presented free access to advocates and Clackamas County Victim’s Services. They were also provided food, and medical care from Providence SAFE and Clackamas Fire Medic volunteers. Victims were not issued citations as a part of the stipulations of the Coast to Coast Operation guidelines and were released.

 

The Coast to Coast mission involved 157 police agencies across 19 states. Locally, members of the Clackamas County Multi-Disciplinary Team working this operation contacted and cited 7 purchasers of sex along with offering services to 5 victims.  In total for this nationwide effort; 87 victims were contacted 74 non-victims were arrested, 7 firearms were seized, and 33 search warrants were issued.

 

Special thanks to law enforcement members of the Clackamas County Multidisciplinary team assisting in this mission; West Linn Police, Canby Police, Lake Oswego Police, Oregon City Police, Wilsonville Police, Gladstone Police, Clackamas County Parole and Probation, Tualatin Police Department,  Molalla Police Department, Oregon Department of Justice Human Trafficking Division, FBI Portland, and the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office.

Additional recognition to victim assistance advocacy groups directly involved in this interagency effort; Safety Compass, The Epik Project, The Guardian Group, Clackamas County Victim’s Services, Providence Health Safe Nurses, Clackamas Fire Medical Personnel.

 

If you or someone you know is a victim of sex trafficking, local help is available. Contact the survivor hotline at Safety Compass – (971) 235-0021. For more information about sex/human trafficking visit this informational page of the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office: https://www.clackamas.us/da/human-trafficking(link is external). For more information about Our Rescue, visit: https://ourrescue.org/education/blogs/from-coast-to-coast-our-rescue-supports-nationwide-stand-against-human-trafficking(link is external).

 

The Milwaukie Police Department routinely participates with interagency missions regarding Traffic Safety, Theft and Human Trafficking in Milwaukie and throughout Clackamas County.

 

Clackamas County Multi-Disciplinary Team participates in Coast to Coast human trafficking interdiction. | City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

Death Investigation In The Milwaukie Business Industrial District (Photo) -06/04/25

Milwaukie OR – On 6/3/25 at approximately 8:00 pm , Milwaukie Police were called to the 11300 Block of SE 37^th Ave. (Minthorne Natural Area) on report of a suspicious circumstance. Upon arriving Officers saw what appeared to be a person partially submerged in the water inside of a wooded area. Officers learned the individual was a recently deceased white female between the ages of 25-35.

 

Detectives responded to the scene. The cause of death for this unidentified female is under investigation by the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s office and is not considered suspicious at this time. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Milwaukie Police tip line (503) 786-7425 or police@milwaukieoregon.gov reference case #25-3261

 

No further details are available share at this time, updates will be provided when appropriate.

 

Death investigation in the Milwaukie business industrial district | City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

Child Luring Suspect Arrested And Indicted (Photo) -06/02/25

Clackamas County, OR – On May 29th, a Clackamas County grand jury indicted Zachary Kyle Morgan, 42 of SE Portland, on charges of Luring a Minor, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child I and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child II.

 

These charges stemmed from a months long investigation which was initiated during a FBI Portland Interagency child luring interdiction sting to include the Milwaukie and West Linn Police Departments. During that prior mission, Officers and Agents posed as decoy children and attempted to elicit contact from users on popular online networking/dating sites and applications.

 

At the conclusion of that sting, a West Linn Police investigator, posing as a 14 year old girl, continued to stay in contact with Morgan. The Police Officer child decoy and Morgan’s communication included multiple sexual acts Morgan hoped to conduct.

 

On May 22nd, Morgan made the substantial act of traveling to an agreed location of a Clackamas County retailer to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old female. Morgan was instead taken into custody by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Interagency Task Force and subsequently transported to the Clackamas County Jail by the Milwaukie Police Department.

 

Online exploitation of children is an intolerable community menace. Parents and Guardians are encouraged to monitor their children’s access to online platforms and regularly discuss the dangers that can exist with online interactions. If you believe your child is a victim of online sexual exploitation, discontinue contact with that individual, save the conversations, and contact local law enforcement. For more information and tips to help identify and avoid these interactions, visit: Project Safe Childhood https://www.justice.gov/psc(link is external) and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://www.missingkids.org/home(link is external)

 

Investigators are concerned there may be additional child victims associated with Morgan. The Milwaukie and West Linn Police Departments urge those with concerning information about Zachary Morgan contact the Milwaukie Police Department; (link sends e-mail)police@milwaukieoregon.gov(link sends e-mail) or calling the Milwaukie Police tip line at (503)786-7425 referencing case number 25-2797.

 

The Milwaukie Police Department routinely participates with interagency missions for traffic safety, theft, and human trafficking throughout Clackamas County.

 

Child Luring suspect arrested and indicted | City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website