Yup, call 911
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PORTLAND, Ore. – A witness to an armed robbery in downtown Portland said he tried to wave down a uniformed police officer as the incident was unfolding, but the officer claimed he was off duty, told him to call 9-1-1 and drove away.
The Portland Police Bureau has now launched an internal investigation, according to spokesman Lt. Robert King.
Rob Anderson said he had popped into the Central Drugs pharmacy at SW 4th and Alder on Thursday afternoon to get some aspirin for his father when somebody strangely told him to leave because they were closed.
Anderson looked around and noticed people had their hands up, so he left the store.
"It was very clear this was not the place to be," he said.
As he was walking away and dialing 9-1-1, he said he noticed a police officer in a uniform and marked car stopped at a light.
He tapped on the window and says he told the officer there was a hostage situation going on at the drug store.
"He told me 'okay, I'm off duty, could you please call 9-1-1," Anderson said, adding that the officer did not seem frustrated, but was rather matter-of-fact sounding.
Anderson said the officer then drove away.
"I'm not going to say I'm blown away or frustrated, but at the same time we expect better of Portland Police to react to that situation," he said. "He could have given me something to say 'we're on this situation, I could call dispatch.'"
The officer came forward to supervisors on Friday, although the police bureau has not identified him or offered up his version of events. King said the bureau is taking this allegation "very seriously".
"When you're in a police car, you're in uniform, you have a badge on and a citizen comes to you and says there's a violent felony the expectation is you take some action," King said.
The bureau's official policy states that "if possible, off-duty sworn members should make an arrest when a crime is being committed in their presence, if life or property is threatened, or if the situation is of an emergency nature that cannot wait for the arrival of on-duty officers."
Ultimately, the store's owner chased down and tackled the armed suspect with the help of another employee. They held the suspect until other police officers arrived.
Police have not said what kind of weapon the suspect had and he has not yet been identified.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams got personally involved in the case after it happened, tweeting back and forth Anderson's colleague who was there at the time.
Thursday evening, Allison Park got into a conversation on Twitter with Adams about the incident and police actions.
At about 2:30 p.m., she posted "@MayorSamAdams Armed robbery attempt (SW Alder/4th) thwarted but 1st police officer flagged to help said he was "off duty" & drove away!"
She also said "Doesn't seem appropriate behavior from those pledging to "protect and serve". Sound ok to you?"
At 6:07 p.m., Adams tweeted "What's this about? @AllisonPark Tracking specifics for @PortlandPolice & your office... a civilian to do police work on their behalf."
Minutes later, Adams posted "Now I see. I am very sorry this happened. Did you get ID info?"
Park responded that she did not get the officer's identification but added "Thanks for taking action on this."
Several similar incidents of employees thwarting robberies
The apprehension of the suspect at the pharmacy downtown is the third such incident involving civilians apprehending suspects in Portland in just the last week.
On Thursday morning, employees at a Southeast Portland convenience store helped capture a man who police said tried to rob the store with a fake handgun.
Security video from the store shows the suspect pointing a gun at the employees. But when they figure out the weapon is a fake, a struggle ensues and the two workers attack the suspect and knock the fake weapon away.
The employees held Hanad Ali Haji, 18, for police, investigators said. He now faces charges of robbery, coercion and menacing.
On Monday, police said several employees at a Burgerville restaurant in Southeast Portland chased down DeWayne Taylor, 31, after they said he grabbed cash out of the till after placing an order and then ran away.
Taylor was arrested when officers arrived. He was already wanted on two warrants and now faces robbery charges as well.
Despite the numerous stories of people intervening in crimes that lead to arrests, not every story has a happy ending.
On July 3 in Auburn, Washington, a 23-year-old man intervened in a dispute between a man and woman and was stabbed to death. Marcus Frounfelter, 24, was arrested a short time later.
Police said that you can legally take action to protect yourself under dangerous circumstances, but they advise the public to call 9-1-1 when they see a crime in progress and to be a good witness by noting suspect descriptions, vehicle descriptions and other details that can assist in an investigation.
<broken link removed>
PORTLAND, Ore. – A witness to an armed robbery in downtown Portland said he tried to wave down a uniformed police officer as the incident was unfolding, but the officer claimed he was off duty, told him to call 9-1-1 and drove away.
The Portland Police Bureau has now launched an internal investigation, according to spokesman Lt. Robert King.
Rob Anderson said he had popped into the Central Drugs pharmacy at SW 4th and Alder on Thursday afternoon to get some aspirin for his father when somebody strangely told him to leave because they were closed.
Anderson looked around and noticed people had their hands up, so he left the store.
"It was very clear this was not the place to be," he said.
As he was walking away and dialing 9-1-1, he said he noticed a police officer in a uniform and marked car stopped at a light.
He tapped on the window and says he told the officer there was a hostage situation going on at the drug store.
"He told me 'okay, I'm off duty, could you please call 9-1-1," Anderson said, adding that the officer did not seem frustrated, but was rather matter-of-fact sounding.
Anderson said the officer then drove away.
"I'm not going to say I'm blown away or frustrated, but at the same time we expect better of Portland Police to react to that situation," he said. "He could have given me something to say 'we're on this situation, I could call dispatch.'"
The officer came forward to supervisors on Friday, although the police bureau has not identified him or offered up his version of events. King said the bureau is taking this allegation "very seriously".
"When you're in a police car, you're in uniform, you have a badge on and a citizen comes to you and says there's a violent felony the expectation is you take some action," King said.
The bureau's official policy states that "if possible, off-duty sworn members should make an arrest when a crime is being committed in their presence, if life or property is threatened, or if the situation is of an emergency nature that cannot wait for the arrival of on-duty officers."
Ultimately, the store's owner chased down and tackled the armed suspect with the help of another employee. They held the suspect until other police officers arrived.
Police have not said what kind of weapon the suspect had and he has not yet been identified.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams got personally involved in the case after it happened, tweeting back and forth Anderson's colleague who was there at the time.
Thursday evening, Allison Park got into a conversation on Twitter with Adams about the incident and police actions.
At about 2:30 p.m., she posted "@MayorSamAdams Armed robbery attempt (SW Alder/4th) thwarted but 1st police officer flagged to help said he was "off duty" & drove away!"
She also said "Doesn't seem appropriate behavior from those pledging to "protect and serve". Sound ok to you?"
At 6:07 p.m., Adams tweeted "What's this about? @AllisonPark Tracking specifics for @PortlandPolice & your office... a civilian to do police work on their behalf."
Minutes later, Adams posted "Now I see. I am very sorry this happened. Did you get ID info?"
Park responded that she did not get the officer's identification but added "Thanks for taking action on this."
Several similar incidents of employees thwarting robberies
The apprehension of the suspect at the pharmacy downtown is the third such incident involving civilians apprehending suspects in Portland in just the last week.
On Thursday morning, employees at a Southeast Portland convenience store helped capture a man who police said tried to rob the store with a fake handgun.
Security video from the store shows the suspect pointing a gun at the employees. But when they figure out the weapon is a fake, a struggle ensues and the two workers attack the suspect and knock the fake weapon away.
The employees held Hanad Ali Haji, 18, for police, investigators said. He now faces charges of robbery, coercion and menacing.
On Monday, police said several employees at a Burgerville restaurant in Southeast Portland chased down DeWayne Taylor, 31, after they said he grabbed cash out of the till after placing an order and then ran away.
Taylor was arrested when officers arrived. He was already wanted on two warrants and now faces robbery charges as well.
Despite the numerous stories of people intervening in crimes that lead to arrests, not every story has a happy ending.
On July 3 in Auburn, Washington, a 23-year-old man intervened in a dispute between a man and woman and was stabbed to death. Marcus Frounfelter, 24, was arrested a short time later.
Police said that you can legally take action to protect yourself under dangerous circumstances, but they advise the public to call 9-1-1 when they see a crime in progress and to be a good witness by noting suspect descriptions, vehicle descriptions and other details that can assist in an investigation.
