August 16, 2019

Grand Jury returns not true bill decision in June 9, 2019 fatal officer involved shooting

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that upon the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, a grand jury returned a not true bill regarding the use of force by a Portland Police Bureau officer that resulted in the death of 38-year-old David Wayne Downs.                                            

The grand jury determined the use of deadly force by Portland Police Officer Nathan Kirby-Glatkowski was a lawful act of self-defense and/or defense of a third person, pursuant to Oregon law.

This investigation started on June 9, 2019 when officers assigned to the Portland Police Bureau were dispatched to a disturbance in the 1300 block of Northwest Lovejoy Street in Portland, Oregon. According to information previously released by the Portland Police Bureau, as officers were dispatched, they received information that the male, later identified as Downs, was armed with a knife and threatened to have an explosive device. 

A copy of the information previously released in this case from the Portland Police Bureau can be obtained by clicking here.

The grand jurors who reviewed this case are Multnomah County community members. Each grand juror was selected by Multnomah County’s Chief Criminal Judge from the regularly scheduled jury pool. This is a process set by Oregon’s Constitution.

Like in the past, the grand jury proceedings in this case were recorded, in accordance to ORS 132.260.

Pursuant to ORS.132.270, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office will file a motion and request that the court authorize the release of a grand jury transcript for public review.

It shall be up to the Multnomah County Circuit Court Presiding Judge to determine if the motion to release the transcript will be granted.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office cannot comment any further on this case at this time.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us