What started as a high-speed run on Interstate 205 early Sunday ended in the Portland International Airport economy parking lot, after police threw down a spike strip and detained two people. Portland police and Port of Portland officers chased the vehicle southbound on I-205, then off onto Northeast Marine Drive and into the PDX economy lot, where it finally came to a stop. The takedown snarled traffic on the highway as officers searched the vehicle and combed the surrounding parking area.
As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, the Portland Police Bureau said officers deployed stop sticks on I-205 south of the Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge after the driver allegedly tried to elude officers and was "driving at very, very high speed." Port of Portland police joined in, searching the economy lot and detaining two people they believe fled from the vehicle, according to the outlet. Authorities did not immediately identify the two people detained or say what charges, if any, they might face.
Traffic and airport impact
The Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck site warned drivers to expect delays on I-205 near the Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge while the scene remained active, according to TripCheck. The disruption hit around key commuter routes to and from PDX's long-term and economy parking areas, and Port of Portland police assisted at the scene, per Port of Portland updates. Travelers moving through the area were urged to build in extra time and follow officers' directions.
How spike strips fit into police tactics
Spike strips, often called stop sticks, are part of Portland Police Bureau vehicle-operations training and are used when officers decide a fleeing vehicle poses a public-safety risk. Bureau training materials describe live scenarios and dynamic deployment techniques for the devices. The bureau tracks and reviews spike-strip use, and past deployments have sometimes drawn complaints or liability claims that show up in public city records.
Police did not immediately release the names of those detained or say whether any charges would be filed, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Officials had not provided additional details at the time of publication.
