An incident at a local pizza shop in Southeast Portland escalated quickly on Wednesday when an armed man began creating havoc. According to a release from the Portland Police Bureau, officers were dispatched to a priority welfare check on a man who was originally causing a disturbance in the street before entering the pizza establishment around 6:11 p.m.
The situation at the 4400 block of Southeast Woodstock Boulevard intensified as the man, later identified as Joseph Tyler Thompson, 38, started threatening employees and causing significant damage inside the store. The quick-thinking store manager managed to evacuate the staff and secure the doors, effectively trapping Thompson within the premises. Upon police arrival, the man reportedly charged at officers with two large kitchen knives but was prevented from exiting by the officers who secured the doors," in a statement obtained by Portland Police Bureau.
With the street closed and the store's broken windows preventing Thompson's escape, officers employed pepper spray after several attempts to subdue him. Meanwhile, trained crisis negotiators from the ECIT and CNT began engaging with the suspect, aiming to calm the fraught situation without further violence or injury. "Using time and patience as a tool, the officers worked to deescalate him," the Portland Police Bureau's report described.
Over an hour into the standoff, their efforts appeared to pay off as Thompson relinquished one of the knives through a hole in the glass and discarded the other shortly afterward. The police then signaled their intent to provide medical assistance, which led to Thompson's compliance and eventual arrest. He was subsequently taken to the hospital for an examination and treatment for minor injuries sustained during his escape attempt.
Thompson is facing multiple charges, including Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Menacing, and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, as per the information provided by the Portland Police Bureau. The case number is 25-140669. The Bureau also highlighted the extensive crisis intervention training their officers receive, which played a crucial role in the peaceful resolution of this dangerous ordeal.
