A Portland man has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, following a reckless police chase that ended in a park in December 2023.
Jeray Anthony Bridges, 35, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in April of the same year, after a chaotic incident that took place on December 19. During the early morning hours, police attempted to pull over a black Dodge Durango driven by Bridges, but he accelerated away from law enforcement.
At around 1:30 a.m., officers spotted Bridges speeding on Southeast Stark Street near 148th Avenue. When the police activated their lights to stop the vehicle, Bridges fled onto a dead-end street. He crashed through a gate at the end of Southeast 155th Avenue and drove into Parklane Park, where he eventually halted the Durango in the middle of the park.
Upon exiting the vehicle, Bridges attempted to flee on foot while carrying a jacket. However, police quickly caught up with him and arrested him. A loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine was found approximately 50 feet from where he was apprehended, and Bridges’ DNA was identified on the weapon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole M. Bockelman labeled Bridges’ actions as “reckless and dangerous,” underscoring the potential harm posed to public safety during the incident.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut referenced Bridges’ extensive criminal history, which includes a first-degree robbery conviction from 2014 and a prior federal conviction for being a felon with a firearm in 2011. Bridges was also on post-prison supervision at the time of the latest offense, highlighting ongoing concerns about his conduct.
Bridges expressed remorse to the judge, stating, “I take full responsibility for my actions.” He acknowledged that he has made a “lot of wrong choices” in his life, but asserted he is learning to seek help and communicate his problems better.
Assistant Federal Public Defender Suman Malempati advocated for Bridges’ federal sentence to be served concurrently with upcoming state court charges stemming from a shooting incident in January 2024. In Multnomah County Circuit Court, Bridges faces serious charges including attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, unlawful use of a gun, and being a felon with a firearm for allegedly firing shots at another individual outside the Lemonnade PDX Dispensary on Northeast Columbia Boulevard on January 7.
That shooting occurred shortly after Bridges was released from custody in connection with the earlier missed court dates. Initially charged in the state court, those charges were dismissed in May 2024 due to a lack of legal representation. Subsequently, federal authorities assumed the case and indicted him in June 2024, but he was not arrested until after the dispensary shooting.
Federal prosecutors have indicated that Bridges is expected to plead guilty to the unlawful use of a firearm in the county case, which could lead to a more extended prison term. Bridges is likely to serve both sentences in state prison, marking another chapter in a lengthy criminal career that has significantly impacted his life.
Such incidents not only pose a challenge to law enforcement but also reveal the complexities faced by individuals navigating repeated encounters with the judicial system.
image source from：oregonlive
