Joshua William Degerness will serve a 25-year sentence following his conviction for the attempted first-degree murder of three Portland Police Officers. The sentencing, which took place in Multnomah County, is the culmination of events starting from a December 11, 2021 incident when Degerness engaged in a shootout with the police, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.
In addition to the primary charge, Degerness was also found guilty of attempted first-degree assault of the officers, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and felony attempt to elude. The pursuit ended abruptly when Degerness crashed his vehicle into a tree. In the following standoff, the defendant fired at least two shots from within the vehicle at responding officers, prompting them to return fire and subsequently wound him. The encounter fortunately did not result to any officer injuries.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero led the prosecution, emphasizing the gravity of Degerness' actions. "Today’s sentence is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and our law enforcement partners. The Defendant continues to show absolutely no remorse and would present a serious and immediate threat if released to the community," Marrero said. Portland Police Chief Bob Day also addressed the resolution of the case, expressing relief and gratitude. "We’re grateful to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and our Detectives for their diligent work on this case to help ensure accountability and justice," he shared on the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.
To successfully elude police on the day of the incident, Degerness tried to avoid a routine traffic stop, eventually leading to a chase. This culminated in a PIT maneuver conducted by the police to halt his vehicle, according to the official report from the incident. The arrest plan quickly escalated to a dangerous confrontation. "Due to Degerness’ non-compliance, a sergeant deployed pepper spray at the open driver’s window. Immediately, Degerness pointed a handgun directly at the sergeant who then ducked for cover and heard gunshots," as detailed in the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office press release. Degerness eventually surrendered after further refusal to comply and provocative taunts to the officers.
With the sentencing, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office aims to reflect the severity of the offenses committed by Degerness. District Attorney Nathan Vasquez weighed in on the matter, saying, "This is a very dangerous individual and he is where he belongs for the next 25 years." The District Attorney's Office expressed its gratitude towards Detectives Michael Jones and Travis Law for their exceptional work in the investigation.
