A routine shoplifting call at a Beaverton WinCo turned into a bloody scuffle Saturday night when a suspect pulled a knife on officers, cutting a police sergeant during the takedown, according to investigators. Police say they were called to the grocery store for a reported theft, then tracked the suspect a few blocks from the scene, where a struggle erupted as officers tried to arrest him. The injured sergeant was taken to a local hospital, treated for the cut, and received stitches before being released.
According to the Beaverton Police Department, the suspect is 26-year-old Caleb Hunter Morandi of Newport. Officers say they recovered a knife at the scene and logged it as evidence. In the department’s account, Morandi faces several charges, including assault in the second degree, assaulting a public safety officer, resisting arrest, theft in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon.
What the footage shows
Video released by police and reviewed by KPTV shows officers tackling Morandi and wrestling him to the ground while disarming him, with a sergeant and two other officers working together to get control. KPTV reports that the sergeant suffered a cut to his right hand during the struggle and was transported to a hospital, where he received multiple stitches.
Charges and booking
Per the Beaverton Police Department, Morandi was arrested on Saturday and booked into the Washington County Jail. The department’s post states that officers explained why they were stopping him before attempting to take him into custody. Investigators are asking anyone with additional information to call the department’s tip line at 503-526-2261.
Legal process
The charges listed by the department are allegations, and Morandi is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. Police say the case remains under review and will move forward through the Washington County judicial system.
