Tragedy struck Oregon City last weekend when local police were drawn into a life-or-death confrontation with a suicidal man. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office shared the details of the harrowing incident, which began early in the morning last Friday, when 58-year-old Scott Alan Farmer contacted authorities, threatening to end his life. According to Clackamas County's official report, Farmer did not initially identify himself and abruptly ended the call.
Responding to the 13309 Clairmont Way residence, law enforcement was met with an unfolding crisis. Oregon City police officers and Clackamas County sheriff's deputies arrived to find Farmer's wife calling 911, reporting her husband as armed and dangerous. In the mix of a rapidly escalating situation, details remained scarce as officers and deputies surrounded the home, where Farmer had barricaded himself inside after briefly exiting.
Efforts to deescalate were underway when Farmer exited his home once again at about 5:04 a.m., refusing to comply with officer commands. The standoff reached its peak as Farmer drew a handgun and fired towards an officer, prompting Oregon City Officer Sydney Oden to return fire and incapacitate him with a shot to the hip. Initial findings indicate that Farmer shot five times and Officer Oden fired three times.
Even as Farmer lay wounded, the tension did not dissipate; he continued to clutch his firearm and disregarded further commands to disarm himself. Within the span of minutes, he turned the gun upon himself, ending his life at the scene. This entire exchange, including the critical moment when Farmer fired upon Officer Oden, was captured on body camera footage by the attending officers.
Officer Oden, having joined the Oregon City Police Department in August 2022, is now on critical incident leave in line with policy after such shootings. The Clackamas County Major Crimes team and District Attorney’s Office have taken up the case, investigating the use of force. As of now, the District Attorney's Office has refrained from giving additional comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
