PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland police officer was justified in shooting an unarmed robbery suspect in a North Portland neighborhood on Oct. 25, a Multnomah County grand jury determined.
The suspect, 25-year-old Chase A. Peeples of Tacoma, Washington, has been released from a hospital and booked into the Multnomah County Jail, where he remains on a federal hold.
The first robbery occurred at Ace Check Cashing, located at 2722 N. Lombard Street. Employees called 911 at 1:15 p.m. and reported that a black man in his 20s had robbed the store.
Minutes later, police say, the same suspect robbed the U.S. Bank branch at 3233 N. Lombard St.
In both robberies, the suspect presented a note demanding money. He never showed a weapon, according to Sgt. Chris Burley with Portland police.
As officers were searching the area, they encountered a man matching the suspect's description near the intersection of North Oatman Avenue and Saratoga Street. The suspect, who was about 60 feet away from the officers, refused to follow commands to put his hands in the air and moved toward the officers while putting his hand in his pocket, according to police.
Officer Ryan Reagan fired six rounds from his handgun and shot Peeples three times, hitting him in his upper right arm, lower abdomen and foot.
No weapons were found at the scene.
The Portland Police Bureau will conduct an internal review of the incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board.