The weekend's patrols by Portland's police found them seizing multiple firearms, ammunition, and drugs in two independent traffic stops. One last Saturday, a no-plated vehicle evaded police officers from the Portland Police Bureau's Focused Intervention Team (FIT), leading to a pursuit. According to details provided by the Portland Police Bureau, the vehicle eventually crashed at the corner of North Columbia Boulevard and North Oregonian Avenue after a high-speed chase. The driver abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee the scene on foot with a guitar case, which was later found to contain a rifle and ammunition.
Following the pursuit, the driver—identified as 56-year-old Lawrence N. Swingle of Portland—was arrested. Inside the abandoned vehicle, officers unearthed a stash of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl pills. The Portland Police Bureau reported that Swingle, with a criminal record, was charged on counts that encompassed possession and weapon violations, as well as attempting to elude reckless driving.
Later that same Saturday evening, FIT officials stopped a driver who failed to signal while turning in Northeast Portland. The stop, occurring near Northeast 84th Avenue and Northeast Klickitat Street, led to another finding when the officers, before towing the vehicle, discovered a loaded handgun. Deray I. Willis, 38, of Central Point, was cited for driving with a suspended license and subsequently taken into custody.
Charges leveled against Willis included being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm in a public space. He was also held on a separate detainer, as mentioned in the release from the Portland Police Bureau.
