PORTLAND, Ore. — Law enforcement arrested a possible armed burglary suspect who was inside a business in Southeast Portland’s Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood.
Portland police responded around 5 a.m. to reports of a burglary at a cannabis dispensary near Southeast 10th Avenue. Police officers determined a possibly armed suspect was inside the businesses. Police asked people in the area to remain inside.
The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) responded. A KGW crew at the scene reported hearing police officers using a loudspeaker to contact the suspect and instruct them to come out of the building.
SERT and CNT officers entered the business and made contact with the suspect around 7:30 a.m., Portland police said.
“Among the things they did was send a drone inside to look for this individual,” said Mike Benner, a Portland police spokesperson. “We saw the individual inside the business. We eventually moved inside with personnel and I think that is when he realized that we were not leaving and he surrendered peacefully to our officers.”
Police arrested the suspect around 7:42 a.m.
The suspect’s name and the charges they are facing will be released after he is booked into jail.
“It is not the least bit surprising to see a cannabis business targeted by a burglar. These businesses deal in cash, there’s a lot of product that can move quite easily,” Benner said.
He told KGW that police believe the man was armed and were are looking for a firearm.
Portland police blocked off Southeast 10th Avenue and Southeast Division Street to Southeast Caruthers Street, but the roads have reopened.
