In a surprising turn of events, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office recently reported two deputy-involved shootings within just one month, marking a significant and unusual uptick in such incidents for the agency.
For context, the last reported shooting by a sheriff’s deputy occurred in February 2023, and typically, the agency averages only one or two shootings per year.
Chris Liedle, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, emphasized that these figures remain extremely low when compared to the extensive number of service calls the agency handles, which could number as high as 50,000 this year.
The first of the two incidents occurred on June 6 when Portland police responded to reports of a fight involving two men in the 4600 block of Northeast 116th Avenue at around 4 p.m.
While initially detaining a suspect, officers did not find a crime victim at the scene and subsequently released him.
A little over an hour later, they received another call regarding the same individual, who had allegedly returned to the street and opened fire with a weapon.
Sheriff’s deputy Matt Hansen was the first to arrive on the scene following reports of additional gunshots.
According to police reports, the man, who has not been publicly identified, pointed a handgun at the officers, prompting Deputy Hansen to discharge a round from his patrol rifle, causing the suspect to drop the firearm.
The man sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
A week later, on June 13, a more volatile confrontation unfolded in Gresham involving two brothers at an apartment complex located at Northeast 162nd Avenue and Glisan Street around 7:30 p.m.
During a heated argument, one brother allegedly brandished a gun and pressed it to the other’s head.
He fled on foot when sirens were heard in the vicinity, which triggered a response from local law enforcement.
Deputy Adam Suboh, who was in the area, collaborated with Gresham police officers to track down the suspect and was involved in a chase as the suspect attempted to evade capture by hopping over residential fences.
Eventually, Suboh attempted to trap the man on a sidewalk, and surveillance footage captured the moment just before the shooting.
According to prosecutors, Suboh quickly exited his vehicle and ordered the man to get on the ground.
The situation escalated when the suspect moved closer and aimed a handgun at Suboh, prompting the deputy to fire.
The man died shortly after arriving at a hospital.
Prosecutors noted that at the time of the shooting, Suboh was alone and no other officers were present to assist him.
Interestingly, excluding the recent incidents, it had been over two years since a Multnomah County deputy had shot an individual.
Prior to the initial June shooting, the last incident occurred on February 18, 2023, when deputies responded to a report of gunfire near a Home Depot parking lot in Troutdale.
Law enforcement officials ordered a man to drop his weapon, but instead, he pointed it at the officers before being shot by one of the deputies.
Although injured, the suspect was later revealed to have been using a replica firearm loaded with ball bearings.
In a court proceeding, he ultimately received a three-year probation sentence after pleading guilty to menacing charges.
The last fatal shooting by a Multnomah County deputy prior to this month took place in 2022.
On January 4 of that year, deputies pursued a suspect who had committed a bank robbery, leading to a chase that turned deadly in Gresham.
The suspect reportedly fired multiple shots at the officers before exiting his vehicle and carjacking another driver, leading to a fatal exchange of gunfire.
Later that year, in October, an altercation between a deputy and a woman culminated in her being shot and injured during the struggle.
Historically, shootings involving Multnomah County deputies have occurred infrequently, typically averaging once per year; incidents were not reported in 2019, 2020, and 2024.
Currently, the sheriff’s office comprises 99 deputy sheriffs and 21 sergeants, as noted by Chris Liedle.
In both 2022 and 2023, the data indicates that deputies used force in only 0.3% of service calls, which reflects the agency’s commitment to policy and training.
Liedle emphasized that this low rate exemplifies how deputies adhere closely to stringent procedures and effectively apply their training in real situations.
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