In a focused crackdown against car theft in the east Portland metropolitan area, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies to recover stolen vehicles and arrest suspects involved in auto theft. According to Portland Police, the joint operation included the Gresham Police Department, Port of Portland Police Department, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Auto Theft Task Force, PPB’s K9 Unit, and PPB’s Air Support Unit.
The effort to combat vehicle theft has once again been aided by the crowdsourced Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars, which played a critical role in tracking down an occupied stolen car. Through the operation, law enforcement aimed to strategically and succinctly to address the problem with data-driven policing strategies. The preliminary results from the operation reported 23 stops, the recovery of six stolen vehicles, and 11 arrests on various charges including outstanding warrants and possession of illegal firearms.
One highlighted case details the arrest of Damon Duboise, 51, after deputies spotted a stolen black Audi near Southeast 124th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street. The pursuit was brief as PPB officers deployed pursuit intervention techniques to disable the vehicle. Duboise, despite the implementation of these techniques, attempted to make a run for it but was soon captured after a brief foot pursuit. Police found a loaded stolen gun and methamphetamine inside the recovered vehicle. "Many suspects who elude police are highly motivated and these incidents can often be longer, more dangerous for the community, the officers, and the suspects," PPB said in their statement, noting their gratitude for the swift resolution of this case.
In another instance, cooperation between PDX Stolen Cars and Portland Police led to the apprehension of Levi McAllister, 28, who was found with a stolen vehicle at Eastport Plaza. He chose to be compliant with officers, later admitting that his awareness of the new Bureau’s pursuit policy convinced him not to try to elude as it could add another felony charge to his record. Alongside McAllister, his passenger, Jacob Knechtges, 28, was also arrested on a warrant for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle. The joint operation's success serves as a testament to inter-agency collaboration and community policing in addressing auto theft, a persistent issue within Portland and beyond.
