Air 5 Locates Eluding Driver, Assists Deputies In Arrest (Photo) - 05/05/26

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, at about 12:20 a.m., a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to pull over a driver for speeding on Sunset Highway near Murray Blvd, when the driver turned off the vehicle's lights and eluded.

Deputies monitoring the call saw the driver continue at a high rate of speed Westbound on Sunset Highway, taking the Highway 6 exit towards the coast. The flight crew for Air 5 was at the Hillsboro Airport, monitoring the call, and took off to assist.

Air 5 found the vehicle, which turned around and headed back Eastbound on Highway 6 towards Sunset Highway, still at a high rate of speed with the lights off. Air 5 continued to monitor the vehicle and saw the driver lose control and crash near the on-ramp to Eastbound Sunset Highway at NW Mountaindale Road in Banks.

The driver ran from the vehicle and hid in the yard of a nearby home. Air 5 kept eyes on the driver while deputies and a K9 team were arriving to search. Deputy Nealeigh and K9 Blitz located the driver hiding underneath a truck parked in the driveway.

The driver, 25-year-old Abayomi Vidal-Avalos, of Cornelius, was taken into custody and transported to jail for attempting to elude, reckless driving, DUII, and probation violations.

If you have information about this incident and have not spoken to deputies, please contact the Sheriff's Office through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 50-26-6004. 

Note to the editors: Video of the incident is available on our Facebook page. 

Deputies Conduct Mission To Combat Alcohol Sales To Minors (Photo) - 04/14/26

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies and volunteer reserve deputies conducted a compliance mission to identify retailers selling alcohol to minors. Deputies monitored 18-20-year-old Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) cadets as they attempted to purchase alcohol from 42 local retailers.

During the mission, cadets would enter a location that sells alcoholic beverages and attempt to purchase alcohol using their real Oregon Driver License, and are instructed to be truthful if asked questions about their age.

In most cases, retailers did not sell alcohol to minors and were thanked for complying with Oregon’s liquor laws. Five retailers sold alcohol to the minor cadet. At each of the five locations, the sales clerk was issued a citation for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

The five locations that sold alcohol to minors were:

• Cedar Mill Liquor Store
• Green Light Food Mart
• Safeway on Cornell Road
• The Booze Barn
• Target on Beaverton Hillsdale Highway

The Sheriff’s Office periodically conducts alcohol compliance missions to stem the sales of alcohol to minors and is grateful for the retailers who refuse to sell. 

K9 Griff Apprehends Felony Warrant Suspect (Photo) - 04/13/26

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, at about 5:48 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to contact 29-year-old Rafael Ortiz near the 4900 block of SW Greensboro Way in Beaverton. Ortiz was wanted for multiple felony warrants and was associated with a domestic violence assault case from March 28, 2026.

Ortiz fled on foot into the Westside Trail and hid in blackberry bushes. Corporal Sam Terry responded with K9 Griff and located the suspect hiding along the trail near SW 160th Avenue. After Ortiz ignored commands to stop, K9 Griff apprehended Ortiz.

Ortiz sustained puncture wounds, and was treated at a local hospital prior to being lodged at the Washington County Jail for the following charges:

• Assault in the fourth degree – Felony
• Coercion
• Escape in the third degree
• Harassment
• Violation of a release agreement
• Nine other outstanding warrants.

K9 Griff is a 6-year-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix. He is a certified patrol dog through the Oregon Police Canine Association and has been partnered with Corporal Terry since April 2021. The team has 146 captures.

If you witnessed this incident or have security camera video and have not yet spoken to investigators, please contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 referencing WCSO Case# 50-26-4258.