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

Multnomah County Corrections Deputy Pleads Guilty To Official Misconduct (Photo) -02/28/25

A Multnomah County Sheriff's Office corrections deputy, Jonathan Lee Taylor, pled guilty today, February 28, 2025, to a single count of official misconduct in the second degree. 

In December 2024, a Sheriff's Office employee reported Taylor to the agency's Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) for allegedly falsifying logbooks. The report alleged that Taylor was logging security and welfare checks when they were not actually performed.

The IAU notified a detective to investigate Taylor's alleged actions. Using video captured by the facility's security cameras, the detective verified the employee's report. Knowingly failing to perform security and welfare checks is against the law and Sheriff's Office policy.

Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell said:

"The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has zero tolerance for misconduct of any kind. The public puts their trust in us to safeguard those in our custody, and the actions by this corrections deputy damage the credibility of our agency and our profession. When an employee does not uphold the laws or our policies, they will be held accountable."

District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said:

"This case is an example of how the law applies to everyone. My office remains committed to holding people accountable if the law is broken."

Taylor is sentenced to six months bench probation, must resign from the Sheriff's Office within seven days of his plea and surrender his Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) certification.

Update: Suspect Arrested In Fairview Homicide -02/27/25

Update: 2/27/2025

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, at around 6:15 p.m., 31-year-old Deming R. Oakleaf of Portland was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Roman Shulishov. Oakleaf was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

No further information will be released at this time.

Original Release: 2/24/2025

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and the East Multnomah County Major Crimes Team (MCT) are investigating a homicide in Fairview.

On February 22, 2025, around 11:30 p.m., a woman reported that her husband left their home near NE 211 Avenue and did not return. The next afternoon, February 23, at about 2:30 p.m., the man, 38-year-old Roman Shulishov, was found dead near their home.

The MCT responded and opened an investigation. Detectives determined that Shulishov had been shot. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that he died from gunfire and ruled his death a homicide.

The investigation is active, and detectives continue to collect evidence. There is no known danger to the public. The victim's family is asking for privacy at this time.

MCSO asks anyone with information to contact investigators at 503-988-0560 or email tips@mcso.us.

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

Fatal Crash In Fairview (Photo) -02/27/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and the East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) are investigating a deadly crash that happened in Fairview.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, just after 6:00 p.m., officers from the Gresham Police Department initially responded to a serious crash on NE Marine Drive near NE Interlachen Lane. Fire crews from Gresham and Portland also arrived to help. It was determined that the crash happened outside Gresham city limits, in the city of Fairview. MCSO deputies took over the investigation.

The East County Vehicular Crimes Team was called to investigate. Investigators found that a Ford F-150 truck, driven by a 17-year-old young man with another 17-year-old young man as a passenger, was heading west on NE Marine Drive when it crossed the center line. The truck crashed head-on into a FedEx delivery van driven by a man, who was traveling east.

Sadly, the driver of the F-150 died at the scene. The passenger was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The FedEx driver was also taken to a hospital with significant injuries. Both were transported by ambulance.

Investigators do not believe that drugs or alcohol caused the crash.

NE Marine Drive was closed for several hours between NE Interlachen Lane and NE Blue Lake Road while VCT investigators worked at the scene.

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The East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) consists of specially trained law enforcement members from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Gresham Police Department and Multnomah County District Attorney's Office. VCT investigates serious and fatal vehicle crashes and crimes in Gresham, Fairview, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village and unincorporated Multnomah County.

MCSO Asking For Help To Find Teen Runaway (Photo) -02/24/25

Update on 2/24/25: Elaina Schaffer was located and found safe on Wednesday, 2/19/25. We appreciate the public's assistance.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) is asking for the public's help in locating a teenager from Fairview, Oregon, who ran away from home.

Elaina Vira Schaffer was last seen at her home on October 21, 2024. Based on information from her mother and neighbor, investigators believe she ran away sometime after 12:20 a.m. She did not take her cell phone with her. Since then, Elaina has been spotted multiple times in east Multnomah County, including Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale. The last sighting was in Troutdale on November 9, 2024.

Elaina is a 14-year-old white female with blue eyes and brown or black hair. She is 5'3" tall and weighs about 130 pounds. The day she ran away, she was seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and black slippers.

If you see Elaina, please call 911 right away and reference MCSO case #24-43426. If you have information regarding her whereabouts, please call the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office at 503-988-4300.

Detectives Arrest Suspect In Sauvie Island Murder (Photo) -02/21/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) has made an arrest in connection with a murder investigation on Sauvie Island.

On February 17, 2025, MCSO deputies, the River Patrol Unit, and the East County Major Crimes Team (MCT) responded to reports of a body found inside a suitcase on the west bank of the Willamette River. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner determined the death was a homicide.

The victim has been identified as 80-year-old Judy Hurley, also known as Judy Fivecoats.

Detectives gathered evidence establishing probable cause to charge 54-year-old Michael Darwin Moody with Murder in the Second Degree (ORS 163.115) and additional offenses. Law enforcement arrested Moody on February 20 at approximately 11:30 a.m. at an apartment in North Portland's St. Johns neighborhood.

The investigation remains active, and detectives continue gathering evidence at this time.

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

MCSO urges anyone with information about this case to contact investigators at 503-988-0560, referencing case number 25-6042.

Death Investigation -02/18/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of an adult previously in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, at approximately 7:30 a.m. corrections personnel and health care staff provided emergency lifesaving care to 35-year-old Dominique Ware, an adult in custody. Paramedics transported Ware to a local hospital. He was pronounced deceased at 11:45 p.m. on Friday, February 14.

Ware was booked into the Multnomah County jail on February 12, 2025. Prior to his death, the Court released Ware from custody.

As standard protocol, the MCSO Detective Unit and the East County Major Crimes Team responded to perform the death investigation, in conjunction with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office. Their investigations help answer questions as to why the death occurred and help us, and our partners, evaluate our response to the emergency.

The cause and manner of death can be made publicly available when the Medical Examiner concludes their death investigation. Because of the time required to complete toxicology analysis, investigations typically take up to four months to be completed for release.

The Sheriff's Office has no further comment at this time.

Suspicious Death Investigation -02/17/25

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspicious death on Sauvie Island.

On Monday, February 17, 2025, at approximately 1:15 p.m., deputies responded to a report of suspicious circumstances in the 15200 block of NW Gillihan Road. When deputies arrived, they discovered a human body on the bank of the Willamette River.

The East County Major Crimes Team was activated and began a death investigation. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office took custody of the body, and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the person's identity, as well as the cause and manner of death. Additional details will be released as findings are confirmed.

The Sheriff's Office and the East County Major Crimes Team are working diligently to determine what happened. At this time, investigators do not believe there is any danger to the public.