Attention, attention: Portland Police officers did not engage in any controversial shootings of civilians this holiday weekend.
Oregon state police troopers, however, can’t say the same. In what looks to be a use of force incident with murky details, state trooper Justin Lane shot and injured 37-year-old Clackamas resident Scott Lee Campbell as he walked down 82nd Avenue on Sunday afternoon.
Compare the police and witness accounts of what went down. The state trooper side, via KATU: Police took reports of a reckless driver in a gray Ford Courier pickup truck cruising around SE Portland on Sunday afternoon. The truck allegedly was involved in a hit-and-run that left property damage, then was abandoned on the side of 82nd Avenue.
- Alleged knife-weilder and reckless driver Scott Campbell
“Trooper Lane was driving on Southeast 82nd Drive when he saw a man who matched the driver’s description walking on the east side of the road. The trooper attempted contact with the man who then displayed a knife,” reports Oregon State Police in a press release. “During the early seconds of contact, the man – later identified as Campbell – was compliant with the trooper’s orders. While holding the man at gunpoint awaiting backup, the man became non-compliant with the trooper’s orders. Trooper Lane fired more than one shot from his Glock 40 caliber handgun, striking Campbell twice and injuring him.”
A witness account of the incident, from a courier driver on lunch break, makes it seem like Campbell was being mostly compliant. Via KGW:
[Witness] David said the trooper ordered Campbell to stop, to which he complied. Campbell got down on his knees with his hands behind his back according to David. He then rose to stand at the request of Trooper Lane said David. At that point, David said, Campbell pulled a knife from his back waistband or pocket and tossed it to the ground behind him. Trooper Lane requested Campbell to pull up his sleeves to reveal his forearms. Campbell complied according to David. Then, suddenly, Campbell turned and picked up the knife from the ground.
“The guy turned around and grabbed the knife from the bike path and I heard the officer say stop,” said David.
David recalls hearing four definitive shots and possibly a fifth. He said Campbell fell to the ground as Lane and an second law enforcement officer told him an ambulance was en route.
One disturbing revelation in this case: the state police have only three Tasers in the Portland area and only 40 Tasers statewide for their 700 officers. The trooper who shot Campbell did not have a Taser on hand.
We’ll have more on this case as it develops.
Then, suddenly, Campbell turned and picked up the knife from the ground.
“The guy turned around and grabbed the knife from the bike path and I heard the officer say stop,” said David.
That’s what qualifies as “mostly compliant” to you? Jesus Christ, Sarah.
How is this a ‘controversial shooting’ Sarah?
If you pick up a knife after a police officer has you at gunpoint, you are WHOLLY responsible for whatever happens next. Drunk, mentally ill, it doesn’t matter… from the officer’s perspective, it’s justified and he deserves to protect himself and people nearby that are in danger. From society’s perspective? That people are so mentally ill, depressed, addicted to drugs/alcohol and put themselves in these positions? Or the position that Jack Collins did or the guy by Lloyd Center who was mentally ill? That’s another thing… but it’s not addressed by criticizing the police, at all.
I’m honestly tired as shit of this questioning going on, when police are clearly justified in using deadly force.
There is so much more productive stuff liberals should be doing than picking their beards over these people that are begging to get fucking shot.
Again, what got them to that point is something we can all debate and address, and we absolutely should, but goddamn.
If tasers are too expensive, how about lassos?
Somebody shot Gregg Allman?!
I’m with CC on this one, Sarah. If you are being held at gunpoint by the police and suddenly pick up a knife off the ground, what do you honestly think will happen? Sounds like suicide by cop, to me.
Maybe he thought the officer was done with him and he was just collecting his knife? Did the guy have enough time to drop the knife? Like, was it:
STOP! *pause* bang-bang-bang (the guy heard the officer and didn’t stop)
or
STOP!bang-bang-bang (not given a chance to comply with the order)
Since the guy let the officer know he had a knife on him and even tossed it away, it seems odd that he’d then try to attack. I’m not saying the trooper was in the wrong. Intentionally or unintentionally, the man appeared to be a threat. I’m just wondering if it could have been a misunderstanding.
The reason that Portland Police have one of the lowest rates of use of deadly force in the country is because they all carry tasers. One can debate the standards where tasers can be used, but you can’t debate whether tasers give police an alternative to deadly force, an alternative that saves lives.
I’m giddy for what touchingly stupid thing the anarchists will have to say about this. They’re like Sloth, in the Goonies, when Sloth dresses like a pirate & causes mayhem.
Anarchists: “Hey yooo guuuys!” Cue stupid/cute mayhem.
@ Polis: You’re assuming I’m interested in saving the life of a violent dirtbag* who is stupid enough to take a shot/stab at a cop.
Also: Campbell was wounded, not killed.
* I of course don’t know this for a fact (yet), but I’ll give you some pretty good odds if you want to make a wager.
Totally, he was mostly compliant! Except the part about picking the knife back up… But other than that, totally compliant!
This sounds like another case of the police using thier version of the event to twist the scenario.Why would he toss the knife and then pick it up later while at gunpoint? Was he the one who comitted an earlier crime ? Why was he not simply cuffed while on his knees and obviously being arrested. Wierd wierd wierd ! Someone said that the port police have the lowest deadly force record !better check your facts on that one .
We were sold the notion of Tasers® for police on the promise that they would be used to incapacitate violent, non-compliant suspects who pose a credible threat to officers and/or the public. And yet, once again, as in the overwhelming majority of cases, an armed and arguably dangerous suspect is shot instead of subdued, while merely non-compliant suspects (who aren’t violent, only not cooperating in their arrest) are regularly subjected to painful electrocution (many while handcuffed) because they didn’t, for instance, stand up fast enough to please the arresting officer. Why did Trooper Lane not have a Taser®? A Taser® is no damn good for subduing violent suspects by troopers/officers who don’t have one.
On that note, since we have paramilitary assault forces (instead of adequate education, housing, and health care) in nearly every jurisdiction, why do rank-and-file officers/troopers/deputies still carry guns at all?
@ nwspirit: “why do rank-and-file officers/troopers/deputies still carry guns at all?”
Mostly so they don’t get stabbed or shot by violent nutjobs, genius.
I know this person he is a rapist and would have used that knife on the officer. I’m Glad the officer shot him to bad he didn’t kill him and get rid of the garbage. If you feel sorry for this person and feel the officer was wrong maybe you should have him live with you and hang out with your young kids, one girl was only 5 years old.
This officer should get a metal you people that feel sorry for this person are wrong………..
the term “suicide by cop” should not exist. what part of serve and PROTECT dont we get?
kgw.com won’t let coments be posted in argument against scotts uncle and aunt who are thinking that the chanel 8 news reporter that said he saw the whole thing and trying to make it out to be the officers fault they none of them know the real truth about this person. The whole family is messed up alot of incest and child moslestation the younger brother is in jail for it right now. I’m on the side of the officer in this one all the way. He has pulled his knife on others in the past.
http://www.kgw.com/home/Trooper-shoots-arm…
I am with gotyou on this if you lived on the mountain where he lived you would be thanklful.. he is right Scott is a PETEFILE who hid in Montanta Idaho as not to have to face his victims..Or Give Them The Chance TO Go after him Just Check With The
Prosecuters Office who dropped the ball on one case…
for those that say why is he not on the list it is only because he ran .. I have talked with family members and good ole Scott thinks he can get money out of this.. If we continue to attack our law enforcment we will be with OUT.. Some of THe BAVEST MEN & WOMEM OUT THERE ON OUR VERY CRIME INFESTED STREETS what is wrong with some ppl just because you have not been convicted does not mean they did not do somthing wrong I just have to say this let him take care of your kids and see what a great job he does …. Who will protect THE VICTIMS !!!!!!!! Scott is not a victim
Grandma Leanne died on May 17, 2010 and the grandchildren were not notified by their parents that she had passed away. They read about it in the Oregonian published on May 30, 2010. That way it gave the children a chance to liquidate all of granny’s assets if there were any left before the grandchildren came calling to get some of the dough. I do wonder if grandma Leanne had a will? The family is really messed up and if they can make a quick buck off of Scott’s stupidity then they will give it a try.
Wasn’t tjere a cousin named David that changed his last name about 15-20 years ago, I wonder if it is the same guy saying that he saw something when he didn’t? Since this courier driver didn’t come out until later or was he on the scene and if he was how come he got soo close as to see how he was holding the knife. If I was the police officer I would have been scared that he would have thrown the knife at me causing me or a bystander bodily harm.
Wasn’t tjere a cousin named David Richer that changed his last name? I wonder if it is the same guy saying that he saw something when he didn’t? (They would do that for the money!) Since this courier driver didn’t come out until later or was he on the scene and if he was how come he got soo close as to see how he was holding the knife. If I was the police officer I would have been scared that he would have thrown the knife at me since he was holding it by the blade causing me or a bystander bodily harm.
Who are you gotyou? You claim he lived with you and did thhoose. Things, then why did you alllow him to live with you?
mememe! There is no mistaking that I know Scott. I am one of his worst Enemy’s… You probably need glass’s and spelling lesson’s to boot. I never said he lived with me only that he lived in Washington State and started his child molestation here in this State and also again in Montana was the rape, then he went into hiding so the police would not catch up with him. Now he surface’s in Oregon and get shot for his stupidity. If you feel sorry for him you must be one of his relatives. I wish he was dead to bad he’s not because that is what he deserve’s… NO MERCY FOR RAPIST AND METH HEADS THIEF’S LIKE HIM. His little brother is in jail in washington for the same thing and so will Scott if I have anything to say about it. He better go back to the rock he was hiding under and stay there. So if you think I ever had him live with me you can see you are very wrong… The officer needs to get a metal… Scott thinks this is going to be a way for him to get some more money out of the system. He was always a dead beat dad and never seen his son because of it. Not one penny did he ever pay for him. He is a SCUM BAG of the worst kind.