Multnomah County Sheriff's Deputies Responded To Unconscious Child At Blue Lake Park (Photo) -03/28/25

On Friday, March 28, 2025, at 11:47 a.m., Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies and firefighters from the Gresham Fire Department responded to Blue Lake Park in Fairview for the report of a child not breathing and unconscious. Responders performed CPR and were able to revive the child. The child was taken to Randels Children’s Hospital and is currently in critical condition.
 

In any incident of this nature involving a child, the East County Major Crimes Team (MCT) is conducting an investigation.
 

The MCT includes investigators from MCSO, Gresham Police, Port of Portland Police, Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.
 

No further comment will be provided at this time.

Public Asked To Provide Feedback On New Policy Draft -03/19/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has a responsibility to engage community stakeholders in the policy process. The public is invited to provide feedback on proposed policy and procedure(s) through a 30-day period known as the Stakeholder Review. 

During the policy’s Stakeholder Review, the public is encouraged to submit comments or proposals relevant to the content of the policy drafts. Individuals who submit comments should be aware that their remarks become public record.

To submit feedback individuals may select a policy draft of interest from the list below, scroll to the bottom of the document, and select the link next to the statement – please provide feedback here.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the community’s time and input during the review process. All comments are taken into collective consideration as policy is finalized.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently in the process of reviewing the following draft:

• 500.00 Complaint Intake and Internal Affairs Processing Stakeholder Review

Thank you for helping shape these policies.

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Update: Missing Endangered Man Found Deceased (Photo) -03/04/25

3/4/2025

We are saddened to report that Reed Christenson has been found deceased. His family has been notified. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.

There is no further information to share at this time.

3/4/2025

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is asking for the public’s help locating 64-year-old Reed Christenson, of Wood Village, who is missing and endangered.

On Monday, March 3, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., Mr. Christenson left Village Manor of Cascadia care facility at 2060 NE 238^th Drive in Wood Village. He left on foot with the assistance of a walker. His TriMet HOP card was used a short time later on an eastbound bus on N.E Halsey Street at N.E. 238^th Drive.  It’s possible he was trying to make his way to southeast Portland, where he has family in the David Douglas area.

Reed Christenson is a 64-year-old white man, six feet tall, 365 pounds. He has blue eyes and is balding with gray hair. He has a prosthetic left leg. He is a Type II diabetic who needs daily medication, which he does not have with him.

If you see Reed Christenson please call 911 immediately. If you have seen him previously or have information about his whereabouts contact MCSO at 503-988-0560 or tips@mcso.us.

Search For Suspect After Late Night Incident In Wood Village -03/04/25

Deputies searched a Wood Village neighborhood late last night after a reckless driver and passenger eluded deputies. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help.

Just before 11:00 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025, a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputy tried to pull over a reckless driver in Wood Village. The driver suddenly stopped in front of the Wood Village Green Mobile Home Park in the 23000 block of NE Arata Road. A female passenger got out of the car, fired a single shot into the ground, and then ran into the mobile home park. The driver sped away and eventually got onto I-84. Deputies decided not to chase the vehicle.

Deputies set up a perimeter around the mobile home park and found about more than a thousand dollars in cash near the entrance. MCSO deputies, with help from Gresham Police Department (GPD) officers, GPD drone operators, and the East Metro SWAT team, searched the area for about four hours. Despite the large effort, they were unable to find the suspect. The search was eventually called off.

The investigation is still ongoing. MCSO is asking anyone with information about the identities of the suspects to call 503-988-0560 or email tips@mcso.us. Particularly, MCSO would like to ask residents to report any suspicious or out-of-the-ordinary activity overnight and to review any home security cameras.

Update: Death Determined To Be From Natural Causes (Photo) -03/03/25

3/3/2025

The medical examiner has ruled that the man found in the Troutdale Home Depot parking lot on Saturday died from natural causes. Detectives from the East County Major Crimes Team (MCT) have confirmed that no crime was involved in his death.

The man has been identified as 61-year-old David Strickler, who was experiencing homelessness in east Multnomah County. MCT investigators learned that others around him, placed him on a sheet of plywood on top of two shopping carts in an effort to take him to Mount Hood Medical Center, nearby, for help. Sadly, he passed away before they could get him there.

No future updates are planned.

3/1/2025

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) detectives are investigating a suspicious death in Troutdale.

On March 1, 2025, around 5 a.m., MCSO deputies responded to a welfare check in the parking lot of the Home Depot at 25101 SE Stark Street. When deputies arrived, they found the body of an adult man. The body was resting on top of shopping carts.

Detectives arrived and began investigating. Their initial findings showed no obvious signs of injury.

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine how the man died. They will also confirm his identity and notify his family. Once those processes are complete, more information can be released.

Detectives are working hard to find out what happened. At this time, they do not believe there is any danger to the public. The investigation is ongoing.

The East County Major Crimes Team is assiting with the investigation. The MCT includes detectives from the Sheriff's Office, Gresham Police Department, Oregon State Police an the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.

Lost Hikers Rescued On Larch Mountain By MCSO Green Hornets (Photo) -03/03/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) trail rescue team of deputies, known as the Green Hornets, rescued a pair of hikers who became lost in the dark on Larch Mountain Friday night.

Around 7:40 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025, a man called 911 to report that his wife and a friend had not returned from a planned hike. An MCSO deputy responding to the incident was able to reach the hikers by phone just before 8:30 p.m. They said they were not lost and had started their hike back to the parking lot. They told the deputy they did not need help. The deputy gave them his phone number and asked them to call if they needed assistance navigating the trails or when they made it back to their vehicle.

About an hour and half later, the hikers called and said they were now lost and needed help. They decided to stay where they were and wait for rescuers. Their cell phone coordinates placed them about a mile from the green gate on Larch Mountain. The Green Hornets are familiar with this area, which is near Nesika Lodge.

Around 1:15 a.m., the Green Hornets found the hikers, who were cold, hungry, and thirsty, but otherwise okay. Rescuers gave them food, water, and extra clothing before leading them back down the trail. An hour and a half later, the team arrived at the green gate, where firefighters from the Corbett Fire District provided a medical evaluation. After the evaluation, they were returned to their vehicle at Multnomah Falls.

Public Safety Announcement!

With spring and summer approaching, MCSO encourages hikers in the Columbia River Gorge to be prepared. The Gorge is a wilderness area.

• Always tell someone your hiking plans and when you expect to return.
• Every hiker should carry the 10 Essentials for safety.
• If you ever get lost or injured, STOP, call 911, and STAY PUT, so rescuers can find you.
• If you don't have a cell signal for a call, try sending a text message.
• Wear good footwear, carry an extra layer for warmth and carry a light better than your smartphone.

Who are the Green Hornets?

The MCSO Green Hornets are a specialized team of MCSO deputies trained for fast foot searches and wilderness first aid. Many of its members are experienced backcountry trail runners and navigation experts.

Image description IMG 1: MCSO Green Hornets guiding lost hikers at night.

Image description IMG 2: Larch Mountain night sky and stars through the trees.

Driver’s Blood Alcohol Level Nearly Three Times The Legal Limit In Fatal Crash (Photo) -03/01/25

A man is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, following a fatal crash in Fairview early Saturday morning.

On March 1, 2025, at approximately 2:18 a.m., Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) patrol deputies responded to an automatic crash notification from Toyota near NE 201st Avenue and NE Broadway Court.

Around the same time, a man, later identified as 27-year-old Leonardo Bollas-Zafra, called 911 claiming he was the victim of a hit-and-run crash. Deputies found him with his car, a Toyota Camry, near NE 158^th Avenue and NE Fremont Street. Bollas-Zafra appeared confused and struggled to answer questions.

Deputies searching the area where the crash occurred discovered an unconscious man on the east side of NE Halsey Street and NE Broadway Court. Deputies performed life-saving measures by administering CPR. Despite these attempts, the man did not survive.

Based on evidence at the scene, it is believed that the man was a passenger in the car driven by Bollas-Zafra. The Camry collided with a power pole.

Bollas-Zafra, who appeared impaired, was detained. Field sobriety tests were conducted, and a hospital blood draw resulted in a blood alcohol level of .23, nearly three times the legal limit.

Bollas-Zafra was arrested and was booked on charges of:

• Manslaughter in the second degree,
• Felony hit and run,
• Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), and
• Reckless Driving.

This investigation will be forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

Image description: IMG1: the car door rests at the base of a power pole on the side of the street

Image description: IMG2: a Toyota Camry sustained damage to the rear door and front end, parked on a street