On September 14, 2024 at 3:01am deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle, serious-injury crash in the 16500 block of SE Foster Rd in east Multnomah County.  Shortly after arriving at the scene, deputies determined that one of the drivers was deceased.

The driver of the other vehicle, TITAS SHMIGEL, age 29 from Damascus, was arrested and later lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center on the following charges:

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree
• Reckless Driving
• Reckless Endangering Of Another Person
• Fail To Perform The Duties Of A Driver – Serious Injury Or Death
• DUII

SE Foster Rd was closed for several hours between SE Jenne Rd and SE 172^nd Ave while the East County Vehicular Crimes Team investigated the crash.  This team is comprised of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the Gresham Police Department. 

The identity of the driver who died in the crash will be released at a later date once notification to the victim’s family has been made. 

Missing Teen - Bailey 'Jade' Loucks

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is asking for help in our continuing efforts to find a missing Fairview teen. Bailey 'Jade' Loucks was last seen on June 14, 2024, in the area of SE 122^nd Ave. and SE Powell Blvd, Portland. 

Bailey goes by the name Jade. She is a 15-year-old white female, approximately five feet tall and 110 pounds. She has brown eyes and a scar on her nose. She also has significant scarring on her leg. At the time she went missing, Jade had purple hair. Her family believes she may have dyed her hair blue. She is a frequent TriMet rider. 

If you see Jade call 911. If you have any information about her whereabouts, or think you may have seen her before, please contact MCSO detectives by calling 503-988-0560, emailing tips@mcso.us or reaching out to us on our website www.mcso.us. 

For media: Detective Tamari Johnson and Detective Sergeant Brad Robertson will be available for interviews about the highlighted cases at 10 a.m. at the Troutdale Sheriff's Operation Center (234 SW Kendall Court Troutdale, OR 97060). Please let us know if you plan to attend by emailing pio@mcso.us 

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is launching a webpage dedicated to unsolved, cold case homicide investigations that occurred in Multnomah County.

The webpage features these cases:

Charly Richards 
- Last seen alive on August 21, 1992.
- A hiker found Richards’ body on Aug. 31, 1992, in a wooded area in Troutdale.
- Richards was a Clark College student and U.S. Army reservist.
Read more

Bonifacio Rodriguez-Rodriguez 
- Last seen alive on the evening of September 25, 1994.
- His body was found on Sauvie Island with a gunshot wound a week later.
- Rodriguez came to Oregon from Mexico to find work.
Read more

John Warner Nolen
- Body of an unidentified male found in the Columbia River on April 29, 1992.
- Reported missing by family in Washington State in April 1993.
- In 2013, dental records were used to identify Nolen. 
Read more

Anyone with information about the cases listed, or any Multnomah County cold case, is strongly encouraged to contact detectives at 503-988-0560, by email at tips@mcso.us or via the tip submission form. If you wish to report anonymously, please report tips to Crime Stoppers of Oregon.

“The individuals involved in these cases and their loved ones deserve justice,” said Detective Sergeant Brad Robertson. “We are dedicated to pursuing a resolution to these crimes and hope anyone with information will come forward.”

MCSO will continue to add cases to the site in the coming months.

Detective Tamari Johnson and Detective Sergeant Brad Robertson will be available for interviews about the highlighted cases at 10 a.m. at the Troutdale Sheriff's Operation Center (234 SW Kendall Court Troutdale, OR 97060). We are also including an interview with Charly Richards' family members who both live out of state. Additional photos from Charly’s siblings are included in the Dropbox.

Dropbox folder contents:

• Photos of Charly Richards, John Nolen and Bonifacio Rodriguez-Rodriguez
• Interview with Richards' siblings: Tammie Jamison Hitt and Donny Jamison
  • :09 – Tell us about Charly
  • 3:14 – What would you like other to know about Charly?
  • 3:56 – What would a resolution mean to your family?

With positive identifications and official next of kin notifications completed by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identities of the three people who died as a result of the plane crash in Fairview, Oregon on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

The deceased are identified as:

• 75-year-old Barbara J. MacDonald, of Fairview, Oregon (Resident)
• 73-year-old Michael C. Busher, of Beavercreek, Oregon (Pilot)
• 79-year-old Jacqueline K. Whitford, of Glendale, Arizona (Flight Instructor)

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) invites those interested in a career in public safety to attend one of our hiring events this fall.

We are currently seeking self-disciplined, dedicated and compassionate people to join our team. MCSO offers highly competitive wages, comprehensive benefits including medical and dental, and a generous county-provided retirement package.

Triple the opportunity

📅 Facility Security Officer Event
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Multnomah County Central Courthouse
Register

📅 Corrections Deputy Event
Date: Thursday, October 3
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Inverness Jail
Register

📅 Deputy Sheriff Event
Date: Saturday, October 12
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: MCSO Training Facility
Register 

At each of these events, job seekers will hear about a day-in-the-life in these positions, meet with staff, and learn about our hiring process.

Apply for the job at the event! Our Human Resources staff will be available to assist with our application and answer any questions you may have about our background checks.

Registration is required. Please register by filling out the corresponding form for the event you’d like to attend (linked above).

Fairview_plane_crash_image_002.jpg

Crash investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to investigate the deadly plane crash that occurred in Fairview, Oregon, on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

During a press conference on Tuesday, September 3, the NTSB investigators say their full investigation could take up to 18 months. Preliminary findings may be available in the coming weeks.

NTSB Air Safety Investigator Michael Hicks says a fixed wing multi-engine Cessna aircraft departed Runway 25 at the Troutdale Airport on a maintenance test flight.

During the maintenance test flight, the pilot reported issues with controllability,” Hicks said during a press conference on Tuesday. “What those issues are, we are going to find out.”

Shortly after reporting the issues, Hicks says a helicopter pilot indicated that the aircraft crashed into a residential area. 

Two NTSB investigators are on scene and are working to collect evidence, such as aircraft debris and other items important to the investigation. This process can take some time as investigators are identifying debris fields and meticulously combing through impacted areas.

“We have work to do,” Hicks said, “and we are going to do it diligently.”

Initial response

At approximately 10:21 a.m., on August 31, Multnomah County sheriff's deputies and Gresham firefighters were dispatched to the 21800 block of NE Heartwood Circle after receiving multiple 911 calls of black smoke in a residential area about two miles west of the Troutdale Airport. 

Multnomah County deputy sheriffs arrived in the Fairview Terrace neighborhood at approximately 10:26 a.m. and found several adjoined, three-story townhomes on fire.

“Our deputies went door-to-door evacuating people who lived inside and grabbed garden hoses to douse the flames with water until firefighters arrived,” Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said.

Around 11 a.m., a deputy notified dispatch that they had located a piece of the plane at a nearby townhome. 

Incident commanders notified the sheriff’s office detectives, who responded to help with the containment of the debris field, interview witnesses and coordinate with federal partners, the FBI, FAA and NTSB. 

Because of the intensity of the fire and risk of fire spreading to neighboring adjoining units, the Gresham Fire Department requested a five alarm response. Each alarm consists of approximately four engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief.

“This particular fire was well-involved, there was a collapse from the initial airplane strike,” Gresham Fire Department Chief Scott Lewis said Saturday during a media interview. “The unit where the most impact was, was a defensive approach, [spraying] water overhead from a ladder truck.”

Several agencies responded to assist the Gresham Fire Department, including: Portland Fire and Rescue, the Vancouver Fire Department, Corbett Fire Department, Clackamas Fire District 1, and Portland Airport Fire, along with American Medical Rescue (AMR).

“Their steadfast aid was the critical facet to ensuring this incident was contained quickly and did not become exponentially worse,” Lewis said on Tuesday during the press conference. “We are deeply saddened by the harrowing incident that happened this weekend.”

Gresham Fire Marshal’s Office investigators also responded to assist in the investigation.

Two people were treated at the scene with minor injuries by AMR paramedics. It was later determined that three people, one resident and two people on board the plane died as a result of the crash.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to positively identify the remains and notify their families. Once these processes are complete, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) can release the names of the deceased.

First responders also activated the Trauma Intervention Program Northwest, or TIP for short. TIP is a volunteer-based program that provides emotional first aid to survivors of tragedy. Additionally, the American Red Cross offered resources to displaced families. 

Fairview Mayor Keith Kudrna says the city is committed to supporting those impacted by Saturday’s tragedy and helping to rebuild the community. 

“We will continue to remain here for the residents of this community,” Kudrna said. “I’ve seen an outpouring of love and support out to the victims, and it makes me proud to represent them.”

Power service

Four Portland General Electric (PGE) transmission lines were damaged by the plane crash. The loss of the transmission lines affected service to approximately 9,500 customers. 

PGE crews were at the location by 11 a.m. while grid operations worked on rerouting power to restore service. By approximately 3 p.m., PGE says service was restored to all customers able to receive power. 

Once it was safe to do so, and NTSB gave clearance, PGE crews began damage assessment and repair efforts late in the day on August 31. Repairs to the affected transmission lines were complete with the lines re-energized by 10 p.m. on Monday, September 2. 

Looking ahead

Once the NTSB, and its partners the FAA and FBI, have gathered and removed all evidence from the scene, the neighborhood will be returned to local control.

People living in or near Fairview Terrace will continue to see a law enforcement presence until the on-scene investigative work is completed. There is no estimated turnover date as investigations vary case-by-case.

We appreciate the public’s patience during this time.

Please direct media inquiries to the respective agencies based on your questions.

• MCSO: pio@mcso.us
• Gresham Fire: greshamfirepio@greshamoregon.gov
• NTSB: mediarelations@ntsb.gov
• PGE: pgecommunications@pgn.com

Responding agencies include Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Transportation Safety Board, Gresham Fire Department, Vancouver Fire Department, Gresham Police Department, Port of Portland Police, Port of Portland Fire and Rescue, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Fire and Rescue, Clackamas Fire District, American Medical Rescue, American Red Cross, Trauma Intervention Program Northwest, and Portland General Electric.

Image descriptions:

• Fairview plane crash image 002: firefighters look at the townhome that was destroyed as a result of the plane crash
• Fairview plane crash image 003: downed transmission power lines above a field near where the plane crashed
• Fairview plane crash image 004: firefighters discover the plane's wheel in the debris
• Fairview plane crash image 005: firefighters spray water from fire hoses onto a smoldering house

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is reminding the public to be vigilant about a phone scam impersonating our deputies and sergeants. Recently, we’ve learned of a person losing $1,000 to scammers. 

Scam call tactics that have been reported to MCSO:

•Scammers are using the names of actual MCSO employees.

•Scammers will falsify caller ID to make it look like MCSO is calling.

•Scammers will provide a fake badge number or case number.

•Scammer claims the person has a warrant, unpaid court fines, or has missed jury duty and must pay a fine with a gift card, cash app or cryptocurrency or be arrested.

•Scammer will demand a person stay on the phone with them until a transaction occurs.

•Scammers will not allow a person to contact family or friends for advice.

•Scammers may have personal information like a home address.

•Scammers may provide a call back number with a falsified phone tree.

•Once the scammer receives payment, they may tell the person they can come to an MCSO office for reimbursement.

We want to remind the public that we NEVER conduct matters concerning warrant service, missed jury duty, missed court dates or payment of fines over the phone. We urge you to be aware of these ongoing and evolving scams.

•If you are called by a person claiming to be a member of the Sheriff’s Office and they are requesting payment in any capacity, DO NOT SEND MONEY or engage with these individuals. They do not represent the Sheriff’s Office.

•If you have been a victim of this scam, please file a police report by calling 503-823-3333 and select the option for non-emergency police reporting in the jurisdiction that reflects your residence.