Photo: Ford, Brad
A suspect is in custody after reaching under a car seat where a realistic replica gun was found, resulting in a use of force by an officer.
On Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 9:19p.m., a Central Precinct Public Safety Support Specialist (PS3) responded to a report of a stolen car parked on Northwest Kearney Street between Northwest 16th Avenue and Northwest 17th Avenue, under the I-405 viaduct. When the PS3 arrived, he discovered that the stolen 2017 Hyundai Sonata was occupied by one person and the engine was running. The PS3 did not engage and requested officers to respond.
One officer from Central Precinct and two officers from the Central Precinct Entertainment Detail responded. In an effort to prevent the suspect from trying to escape, the officers positioned their vehicles on the front and back of the stolen vehicle. An officer saw a knife in the car and took the opportunity to safely remove it. Another officer ordered the suspect out of the vehicle, but he did not comply. The suspect began to try to use the stolen Hyundai to push the police vehicles and drive away. Officers were able to deflate the tires and the suspect was unable to escape with the car. Officers saw him reaching toward the floorboard. An officer used his police shotgun to strike the suspect in the side of the head, giving the officers an opportunity to successfully and safely pull the suspect out of the vehicle and take him into custody.
The suspect did not complain of injury but told the officers that he had swallowed drugs, so officers requested an ambulance and he was transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Due to the possibility he had ingested drugs, he spent an observation period at the hospital. He was released overnight and interviewed by detectives. The suspect is identified as Brian J. Bruman, 32, of Portland. This morning at about 3:00a.m., Bruman was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on an arrest warrant out of Washington County. Detectives are working with the Multnomah County District Attorney's office on considering additional charges.
Based on the reported level of force used by an officer in this incident, members of the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division's Homicide Detail responded to perform an investigation into the force used. Pursuant to Portland Police Bureau policy, deadly force includes any use of force likely to cause death or serious physical injury, including the use of a firearm, carotid neck hold, or strike to the head, neck or throat with a hard object. There were no reports that any officer discharged a firearm during this incident.
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office was contacted and will continue to be consulted regarding this investigation.
The involved member has been placed on paid administrative leave pursuant to Police Bureau policy. The member will be publicly identified within 15 days of the incident.
"I am thankful that no one was seriously injured during this incident," said Chief Chuck Lovell. "As with any use of force, this incident will be thoroughly reviewed and we will release additional information when it is appropriate to do so."
As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
Source: Portland Police Bureau