Suspect rams Portland Police car, officer injured

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A police officer is recovering after her patrol car was rammed early Friday morning.

The officer was injured after a pursuit that started at 3:39 a.m. near Southeast 100th Avenue and Holgate Boulevard, according to Portland Police spokesperson Sgt. Chris Burley.

Officers attempted to stop a Jeep that was seen speeding. At first, they did not engage in a pursuit but attempted to follow from a safe distance. Officers then lost sight of the car.

A description was put out to all officers in the area. The car was then spotted by another patrol car.

Officers engaged in an actual pursuit – with lights and sirens – but the driver refused to stop. He was going about 50 miles per hour on city streets. Police then used spike strips but the driver was able to continue.

Eventually, police used a PIT maneuver to spin the vehicle out, but the driver was able to gain control and traveled a short distance before being boxed in by several patrol cars.

When the driver was boxed in, he kept putting his vehicle into reverse and drive. Police say the man rammed two police cars, injuring one officer. She was taken to a non-trauma hospital where she is expected to be okay but is shaken up.

The name of the driver has not been released.

He will be booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center once police can determine what kind of charges he should face. He will appear in court on Monday.