Police shut down light rail after breaking up party

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Sep 25, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

Portland police breaking up a loud party late Friday, Sept. 21, ended up shutting down the MAX light-rail line for about half an hour.

The incident began with a report of a fight in which gunshots were fired at an apartment complex at Northeast 160th Avenue and East Burnside Street. Police discovered that the fight stemmed from a large going-away party thrown by a tenant being evicted, said Sgt. Brian Schmautz, Portland police spokesman.

Officers responded to break up the party. Meanwhile, a large number of intoxicated people – citizens reported as few as a dozen and as many as 100 – left the complex for a nearby light-rail station.

To prevent the throng of people from creating a problem on the MAX, officers stopped the train from coming until the crowd was dispersed.

“Officers do not want to create a problem for someone else by filling up a train or bus with intoxicated people,” Schmautz said, adding that officers didn’t handle the call differently just because it happened in an area that Portland and Gresham officers are patrolling more frequently due to high crime rates. “This problem occurs several times a year in various neighborhoods around the city.”

Although police didn’t arrest anyone, they did take one person to the Hooper Detoxification Center. Police also found bullet casings, but no holes in walls or anything else that might have been shot, no victims and no potential suspects, Schmautz said.

In addition, police arrested 27 juveniles for breaking curfew during an East Portland and Gresham curfew sweep this weekend. Officers from Portland’s East Precinct, the Gresham Police Department, transit police, Multnomah County’s Sheriff’s Office and representatives from the county’s juvenile parole and probation, juvenile justice offices, plus Janus Youth Services took part.

The sweep also resulted in a juvenile being arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants, an adult being taken to the Hooper Detoxification Center, a 24-year-old Troutdale man arrested for second-degree possession of a controlled substance, a 26-year-old Portland woman arrested for attempted possession of a controlled substance and on a warrant, and a 33-year-old Portland man arrested for first-degree criminal mistreatment stemming from allegations made by one of the detained juveniles.

Portland and Gresham police will continue their enhanced patrols of the Northeast 162nd Avenue and Burnside area. Also officers are working with area apartment complex managers on an education program designed to reduce crime plaguing the area, as well as solve other livability issues.

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