A Tigard man, previously convicted as a felon, was arrested after a domestic violence incident where multiple stolen firearms were found in his possession. On Tuesday, Tigard police responded to reports of a disturbance involving a weapon at a residence located on the 7000 block of SW Taylors Ferry Road.
Officers arriving at the scene were told that the suspect had pointed a gun at a woman, threatened to shoot her, struck her in the face, and even chased her with a hatchet. The victim managed to get herself safely outside before police arrived. The suspect, 43-year-old Jason Alan Smith, was not allowed legally to possess guns due to his status as a convicted felon. A search warrant led officers to a gun safe at his residence, where they discovered an arsenal of 16 firearms.
As reported by the City of Tigard's official website, inside the gun safe were handguns, rifles, and shotguns, with one that appeared to be a modified, illegal sawed-off shotgun. Many of the firearms lacked serial numbers, making immediate identification difficult. Authorities have thus far confirmed that at least five of these weapons had been reported stolen in a burglary in Clackamas County earlier in the year. Two additional guns are suspected to also be linked to the same incident but are awaiting definitive confirmation.
Smith was booked into Washington County Jail, facing a litany of charges, including second-degree kidnapping, fourth-degree assault, and being a felon in possession of a weapon. Unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and coercion are among the other accusations. With the plethora of guns uncovered, it is expected that Smith might soon be facing additional charges once the investigation further unfolds.
