Crowl released to house arrest in ‘arsenal’ case

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The 39-year-old man who police and prosecutors say posed a “reasonable” threat to officers after being found with a cache of guns and ammunition inside his vehicle outside a police station will be released, a judge ordered.

Eric Crowl is charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon, a felony and unlawful possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor. When Crowl was arrested on Aug. 7, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge set his bail at $1 million.

The increase came at the request of the district attorney’s office who described Crowl as a threat to law enforcement after he was observed recording officers at the city’s east precinct several times in April.

With Tuesday’s ruling, Crowl will likely be released to the county’s pre-trial release services program. The judge on Tuesday ordered that Crowl remain under house arrest. Crowl won’t be able to use the internet, but will be allowed to use a computer for work. He cannot possess a gun or body armor and cannot engage in surveillance of police.

When police contacted Crowl on Aug. 7, they found an “arsenal” of weapons inside his vehicle.

Multnomah County senior deputy district attorney Glen Banfield told Judge Eric J. Bloch that releasing Crowl would take away a “reasonable protection to police.”

“This is not just about politics, it’s about what these officers fear,” Banfield said. “There was a credible threat to their safety.”

Crowl’s court appointed attorney, Brian Schmonsees, told Bloch that his client has no criminal record, has established roots in the community and is the sole bread winner for his family.

“Mr. Crowl is not on some type of mission to kill police officers,” Schmonsees said. “He’s not suicidal. He’s not mentally ill.”

Schmonsees said the case against his client “is very much tied up in politics.”

Banfield hammered at the fact that when Crowl was first contacted on Aug. 7 around 3:30 p.m., officers did not see any weapons or ammunition in his vehicle. When Crowl returned to the precinct, several hours later, Crowl was found to have guns, ammo and camping supplies in his car.

“That definitely begs the question, why come back to the police station with that much ammunition,” Banfield said. “The grand jury believed there was an unlawful intent.”

The prosecutor called Crowl’s behavior “alarming,” given recent deadly police ambush shootings that have happened throughout the United States.

Banfield also revealed that during a search warrant of Crowl’s residence, officials discovered several computers and laptops that “are all incredibly encrypted.” He confirmed in court that a forensic lab has been unable to access the computers.

Crowl, according to the prosecutor, told the grand jury that officers don’t have anything to worry about, in regards to what’s on his computer – but Banfield said Crowl hasn’t provided detectives with his passwords.

A former employer of Crowl described him as a “computer genius.” The prosecutor cautioned that if released, Crowl could possibly access the computers that are stored in police evidence remotely and wipe off any potential evidence.

“This case is a string of inferences that if it goes to trial, I think ultimately, Mr. Crowl will be vindicated,” Schmonsees said.

Crowl has been indicted by a grand jury and has previously pled not guilty.