This installment of First Responders: A Peek at the Past Week is a combined, two-week overview. The following information has been compiled from various sources including social media accounts of the agencies and organizations described and Wash Co Scanner. It’s not a complete listing of all incident reports out of Hillsboro and its environs. Rather, it’s a selective review.
Why does The Herald run this series? Not for novelty- and spectacle-seeking purposes or ignoble, base entertainment. We feel a populace best understands and appreciates its emergency responders when it has knowledge of the breadth, depth, and variety of incident responses, functions, and services routinely provided by these teams and individuals who don’t typically “toot their own horn.”
This article doesn’t represent original reporting by The Herald. The information sources are considered credible but the newspaper has no firsthand substantiation of the reports. No one is guilty until proven so in a court of law.
December 5 – December 18, 2021
Dec. 5 (p.m.) In an attempt to elude a police traffic stop, a vehicle crashed in the vicinity of NE Evergreen Parkway and NE 106th Avenue. The driver fled on foot. A second occupant was detained by an officer at gunpoint. Containment was set up for the fleeing individual but it’s unreported whether there was an apprehension.
Dec. 6 (p.m.) A crime spree involving multiple, subsequent incidents of vehicle theft, fraud, and personal property theft beginning at a Beaverton LA Fitness, jumping to the LA Fitness on NE Imbrie Drive, the nearby Fred Meyer’s and, then, to the Cornelius Walmart ended in west Hillsboro. Being pursued by the Cornelius Police Department, the suspects—in a vehicle stolen from Beaverton earlier in the day—re-entered Hillsboro via SW Baseline Street (Tualatin Valley Highway) where HPD officers used a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) to stop them. All three suspects were arrested. (Hillsboro Police Department)
Dec. 6 (p.m.) Hillsboro Police set up containment in the vicinity of SW Connell Avenue and SW Oak Street. The suspect vehicle had eluded an officer and the occupants then ditched the car and fled on foot. It’s unreported whether there were apprehensions. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 7 (a.m.) Hillsboro Police engaged in pursuit of a stolen vehicle—the driver of which also reportedly a suspect in multiple other crimes—and ended the run with a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) at SE 10th Avenue and SE Oak Street. One occupant requested EMS. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 7 (p.m.) Washington County Sheriff’s deputies set up containment and deployed K9 tracking in the vicinity of NW 185th Avenue and NW West Union Road. There was a report of an attempted burglary on NW 183rd Avenue. Another person reported a male attempted to carjack them. A third person reported someone trying to break into their house. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 7 (p.m.) A vehicle was reported stolen from 1400 SW Oak Street. A Hillsboro Police officer saw the vehicle and the driver bailed out at SE Baseline Street and SE 6th Avenue. Containment was set up and K9 tracking deployed. It’s unreported whether there was an apprehension. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 10 (a.m.) An officer heard on the scanner: “She drew a smiley face on my windshield with her peanut butter sandwich.” (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 11 (a.m.) Hillsboro Police officers and EMS responded to a single-vehicle crash into a tree in the vicinity of NE Evergreen Parkway and NE Cornelius Pass Road. The eastbound lanes of Evergreen were closed for a time. (Hillsboro Police Department)
Dec. 11 (p.m.) This report arrives from beyond the typical geographic area covered by The Herald‘s ‘First Responders’ series. Given the newspaper’s reason for running the series, though (stated above), it makes sense to share the story. From the Newport (Ore.) Police Department: “Earlier today, a porta-potty attempted to elude police during a high-wind chase on Hwy 101 at Hwy 20. The porta-potty was observed traveling recklessly near the Dollar Store. After a brief chase by officers, the porta-potty’s run ended when it had nowhere else to go. The trash bin received minor injuries when it blew out of the way of the oncoming porta-potty, but declined medical treatment at the scene.”
Dec. 11 (p.m.) Hillsboro Police officers responded to a call of disturbance with a hatchet in the vicinity of NE Airport and NE Shute Roads. The incident’s resolution wasn’t reported. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 12 (a.m.) Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, Life Flight, and utility crews responded to a crash at NW Susbauer and NW Wren Roads that took down power lines. One occupant was flown to a hospital via Life Flight with serious injuries. Another occupant sustained minor injuries. (Cornelius Fire Department)
Dec. 13 (p.m.) Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS responded to a two-vehicle crash at NW 185th Avenue and Walker Road. The intersection was blocked resulting in traffic delays. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 14 (a.m.) Washington County Sheriff’s deputies closed SW Hillsboro Highway (Oregon Route 219) south of SW Farmington Road (Oregon Route 10) for a time. A non-injury crash had occurred due to icy conditions. (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)
Dec. 14 (a.m.) Washington County Sheriff’s deputies and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded to a two-vehicle crash on SW River Road between SW Farmington and SW Scholls Ferry Roads. The traffic lanes were blocked and it was reported that one occupant might require extrication. (Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue)
Dec. 15 (a.m.) At a Winco grocery store (exact one unknown), a woman was reported to be throwing produce. Mangos and pineapples. The incident’s resolution wasn’t reported. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 15 (p.m.) Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a disturbance with a weapon in the area of SW Tualatin Valley Highway and SW 185th Avenue. Reportedly, a male with a knife was damaging vehicles. The suspect male had smashed the caller’s window with a metal pole that was laying on the ground by the vehicle. The caller had pepper sprayed the suspect male. One individual was detained. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 16 (a.m.) Two vehicles were reported stolen while warming up. Exact locations are unreported but they were separate incidents at separate times. One of the vehicles reportedly contained a 9mm firearm when stolen. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 16 (p.m.) Washington County Sheriff’s deputies set up containment in the vicinity of SW 185th Avenue and SW Stepping Stone Drive. A suspect in a reported domestic incident had fled the scene. It’s unreported whether there was an apprehension. (Wash Co Scanner)
Dec. 18 (a.m.) To the Wash Co Scanner Twitter feed, a neighborhood resident reported a Hillsboro Police pursuit ending with a spike strip, a PIT (pursuit intervention technique), search, and arrests on NE Brookwood Parkway near the Washington County Fairgrounds.
