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@Multcoso
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has great training, good policies and smart caring deputies who ensure that all community members are kept safe, including those who run from us. This last week, we saw this in action when MCSO safely and smartly made an arrest after a pursuit, K9 track down train tracks, rock climbing and a negotiation that ensured everyone came back safe.
Two Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Deputies attempted to stop a truck on westbound I-84 near Dalton Point. They saw the driver fail to maintain a lane and accelerate above the posted speed limit.
The vehicle accelerated and actively tried to run from deputies after the deputies turned on their lights and sirens. While fleeing on I-84 westbound, the driver created a dangerous situation by exiting the interstate the wrong way up an onramp at Bridal Veil. Using sound judgement and following MCSO policy, the deputies stopped following immediately. They searched the area for several minutes, and after an alert Oregon State Parks employee directed them towards the Bridal Veil Post Office, the deputies found the truck stuck on the Union Pacific Rail Road tracks below the viewpoint at Bridal Veil Falls State Park.
By this time, other deputies were coming to help with the search and the sergeant on shift got out on foot and walked down to the tracks west of the vehicle’s location. While he was down there the suspect emerged from the tree line but didn’t see the sergeant. He was looking the opposite direction of the sergeant and broke out into a full sprint towards him. He finally looked in the direction that he was running and spotting the man in green and in the words of the sergeant, “The look on his face was priceless!” The suspect quickly darted south and disappeared into the trees at the base of the rock cliffs.
We called in the Portland Police Bureau’s airplane for assistance and the Gresham Police Department’s on-duty K9 team. The PPB airplane was able to use FLIR and located the suspect on top of a 60-foot cliff. At this point the suspect was exhausted, dehydrated and was stuck. Deputies and Gresham Police Officers formed a team to climb up the steep and dangerous rock wall to assist the suspect down. After about 20 minutes of talking with the suspect, the deputies and officers were able to help him to safety.
Concerned for the man’s safety, we called for medical help and an ambulance took the suspect to Mount Hood Medical Center to be checked out. The suspect's name is Dennis Painter and he was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on several charges:
- Felony Elude
- Reckless Driving
- UUMV
- PSMV
- Interfering
- Criminal Trespass I
- PCS – Meth
- Parole Violation (Robbery I)
Because of the smart decisions, good policies and great training, the deputies, the community and the suspect were all made safe.