Portland Police arrested a man accused of crashing a stolen car, running over a transient, then barricading himself in a shed in NE Portland Tuesday morning.
Police say it started when an officer tried to pull over the driver of a Toyota Camry near Northeast 31st and NE Broadway Street for a traffic violation and the driver refused to stop.
The officer did not give chase, but observed the car crash shortly after attempting to stop it. The driver crashed onto a small green space at the intersection of NE Sandy Boulevard, NE Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, and NE Broadway Street.
The officer responded to the crash scene, and saw the driver run from the car. The officer found an injured man who had been run over at the time of the crash, believed to be a transient. That man is expected to survive his injuries. During the investigation, officers learned the suspect was likely armed with a handgun.
As officers searched the area for the suspect, a resident reported a man matching the suspect's description had ran into a shed on the property on Northeast 40th Avenue, between NE Halsey Street and Broadway Street, and barricaded himself inside.
After a 4-hour standoff with members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), police say the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Donnie Pradith, was taken into custody.
A police canine team located a firearm in the yard near where Pradith was taken into custody. Officers believe Pradith was in possession of the firearm and that he left the firearm behind while being sought by officers. The firearm was seized as evidence.
While officers searched for Pradith, police contacted the registered owner of the Toyota Camry Pradith was driving at the time of the crash. The officer learned the car was stolen, but had not yet been reported as a stolen vehicle to law enforcement.
As officers searched the Toyota Camry they located 300 Xanax pills and $800.00 in cash. Investigators believe the illegal drugs and cash were in the possession of the suspect. The illegal drugs and cash were seized as evidence.
Pradith was lodged at the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Attempt to Elude by Motor Vehicle, Attempt to Elude on Foot, Fail to Perform the Duties of a Driver Causing Injury, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Burglary in the Second Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Investigators expect additional charges in relation to the drug investigation.