A man chased by Portland police and arrested after he bolted a car during a traffic stop died at Adventist Medical Center early this morning, police officials said this afternoon.
The man, who was not identified, was a passenger in a car pulled over because a taillight was burned out, according to a police statement. He ran off after police figured out he didn't give them his real name—with police, during the hunt for the man, learning he had an outstanding felony warrant. Update July 11: The O reports the man has been identified as Darris Johnson, 26, of Portland.
The chase was pretty physical, with several fences jumped. And when cops finally caught up with the man, hiding behind a house, he reportedly turned himself in peacefully. "The suspect cooperated with commands and was taken into custody without incident and without the use of any force," the statement says.
Then, when the guy was in the back of the car, something happened:
The suspect indicated that he was having trouble breathing which is not unusual after a foot pursuit. Officers noticed that he was talking continuously and his breathing was not labored. Officers began to transport the suspect and monitor him as they are trained to. At some point during the transport they noticed a change in his condition. Officers stopped the police car, took off the handcuffs, called for an ambulance and immediately began CPR. Officers continued CPR until relieved by Portland Fire Bureau Personnel.
Two hours later, the man died of a possible heart attack after some kind of a "medical complication," and tests showed he may have had meth and pot in his system.
Read the full release after the jump:
Posted: July 10th, 2011 2:45 PMToday Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 4:08 a.m. Portland Police officers assigned to East Precinct made a traffic stop of a 1988 Cadillac at Southeast 122nd and Bush for defective equipment, no taillight. The vehicle had 4 occupants. In addition to the driver there was a front seat passenger and two passengers in the back seat. Officers made contact with the driver and observed that the left rear passenger was not wearing a seatbelt. Officers obtained the identification of the driver and the left rear passenger and conducted a routine computer check. The computer check revealed that the driver did not have insurance on the vehicle.
Once officers had this information they re-approached the vehicle intending to cite the driver for no insurance and arrest the back seat passenger for furnishing false information to a police officer. When officers approached the car the left rear passenger ran from the vehicle. Officers briefly pursued the suspect on foot. Officers immediately established a perimeter and called for a canine. The police canine arrived and officers began to search the area for the suspect. As officers were pursuing the suspect the police dispatcher indicated the suspect had a felony arrest warrant for parole violation for dangerous drugs. The suspect had run and jumped over three fences prior to being located.
Officers observed the suspect hiding behind a house. Intending to arrest the suspect on the outstanding felony arrest warrant officers verbally challenged the suspect. The suspect cooperated with commands and was taken into custody without incident and without the use of any force. The suspect walked without assistance to a police car and was driven from the arrest location to the initial stop location at Southeast 122nd and Bush.
The suspect indicated that he was having trouble breathing which is not unusual after a foot pursuit. Officers noticed that he was talking continuously and his breathing was not labored. Officers began to transport the suspect and monitor him as they are trained to. At some point during the transport they noticed a change in his condition. Officers stopped the police car, took off the handcuffs, called for an ambulance and immediately began CPR. Officers continued CPR until relieved by Portland Fire Bureau Personnel.
The Portland Fire paramedics and AMR ambulance arrived on scene and provided care then transported the suspect to the Portland Adventist Medical Center. The suspect arrived at Portland Adventist Medical Center at 5:59 a.m. and Medical staff informed us the suspect suffered a medical complication and was pronounced dead at 7:58 a.m. Preliminary information from Medical staff indicated the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana and may have suffered a cardiac arrest.
As required by policy Portland Police Bureau Detectives and the Medical Examiner were notified and they responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The Assistant Director of the Independent Police Review Division of the City Auditors Office was also notified and responded.
The investigation is continuing.
