A dramatic chase through the streets of Portland ended with the arrest of two suspects, as part of a larger crackdown on retail theft and criminal activity. The Police Bureau East Precinct and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office joined forces on Sunday, February 18, for a mission that yielded arrests and various charges, including felonies.
The situation escalated when an Audi sedan, reported stolen from Hillsboro, rapidly eluded police beginning from Southeast 113th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street. The chase was quickly terminated due to safety concerns, but not before the police were able to continue to safely track the suspects from the air with their Air Support Unit. The pursuit eventually ended at Southeast 21st Avenue and Southeast Yamhill Street, where the suspects abandoned the vehicle and proceeded to break into a temporarily vacant home. According to the Portland Police Bureau's news release, officers, with the help of a K9 unit, set up a perimeter and apprehended the suspects hiding in the basement.
The driver, identified as Austin L. Denison, 29, from Sherwood, Oregon, was arrested and hit with a slew of charges, including Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle and Burglary in the First Degree, among others. Shelby B. Steelman, 28, of Hillsboro, was the passenger apprehended and now faces similar charges. Both were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau.
The crime suppression mission netted a total of 21 arrests, including apprehension of suspects on felony and misdemeanor warrants. Not only did the joint operation manage to recover two stolen vehicles—I assessed at a combined value of around $38,000—but also seized 36 fentanyl pills and 12.7 grams of methamphetamine.
Photos released by the authorities showed the reality of the mission, including the recovery of the stolen vehicles and suspects being detained. The Portland Police Bureau emphasizes the importance of such missions in their ongoing effort to increase safety and decrease crime in Portland and Multnomah County.
