8/4/2024
Portland, OR. – Official Release: As expected, hundreds of people attempted to establish large scale street takeovers, but were quickly broken up by law enforcement officers working together in a highly successful multi-agency street racing suppression mission. At least 47 traffic stops were made, at least 11 people were arrested, and at least 10 cars were towed. Some were seized through asset forfeiture, meaning the owners lost their vehicles permanently due to their participation in street racing/street takeovers.
Throughout the evening, participants tried to establish takeovers of at least 6 intersections. The police response led to all of the takeovers ending quickly. Here is a summary of some of the major incidents (this is not a comprehensive list as reports are still being compiled):
At 6:51p.m., Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers stopped a red Dodge Charger in the area of Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Southeast Washington Street. Officers contacted the driver and obtained identifying information, discovering the driver had multiple arrests warrants. The driver then fled from the traffic stop. Officers located the vehicle and the driver in the area of Southeast 27th Avenue and Southeast Taylor Street. The driver, Saveel Sheikh, 27, of Portland, was arrested after about 20 minutes of negotiations. Sheikh was charged with Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving, eight counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and multiple arrest warrants related to Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. (24-194413)
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At 8:24p.m., Oregon State Police stopped a Cadillac with switched license plates near the 8100 block of Northeast Lombard Street. The driver was arrested for an outstanding warrant. The vehicle was towed. (24-194495)
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Portland Police Traffic Officers stopped a black Chevrolet “Batmobile” near the 2700 block of North Marine Drive. The driver was cited for a traffic violation. (photo)
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At 9:31p.m., North Precinct officers responded to the 8500 Block of North Argyle Way on a report of a street racer firing shots into the air from their vehicle. No injuries were reported. The suspect was not located. (24-194587)
Portland Police Officers stopped a vehicle at Northeast 162nd Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street. The driver did not have a driver license or insurance. The vehicle was impounded. (24-194534)
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At 11:55 p.m., Portland Police officers attempted to stop a black Ford Mustang near the 1400 block of Northeast Grand Avenue. The driver of the Mustang attempted to elude the traffic stop. Officers were able to get the vehicle stopped after a brief pursuit. The driver, Chase A. Rodriguez-Birt, 18, of Salem, Oregon, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a charge of Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle and an outstanding warrant. His Mustang was impounded. (24-194731)
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At 12:15 a.m., participants attempted to establish the first intersection takeover at Southeast 10th Avenue and/ Southeast Ash Street. One of the drivers skidding in circles was in a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. Officers followed the vehicle where its driver tried to hide it in a busy parking lot in the 800 block of Southeast Pine Street. Officers found it and arrested the driver. He was armed with a gun (photo). Lopaka J. Smith, 19, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person (100 counts), Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm in City Limits (City Code), and was cited for Street Racing. His car was towed and forfeited. The takeover was broken up by police at 12:29 a.m, less than 15 minutes later.
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At 12:43 a.m., the second intersection takeover was attempted at Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street. It was broken up after about 10 minutes. One of the drivers who was spinning in the intersection, in a black Chevrolet Camaro, eluded police trying to stop him. Officers used spike strips to flatten his tires and he ran on foot in the 8800 block of Northeast Broadway. He hid in someone’s yard until officers and K9 located and arrested him at 1:09 a.m. Victor D. Ferman Camacho, 25, of Vancouver, Washington was booked into jail on charges of Reckless Driving, Attempt to Elude Police, Speed Racing on Highway, Reckless Endangering another Person. His car was impounded and will be forfeited. (24-194775)
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A red Ford Mustang involved in street racing was abandoned after it crashed near Northeast 82nd Avenue and Northeast Siskiyou Street. The driver has not been located. No injuries have been reported related to this crash.
At 1:15 a.m., a third intersection takeover was attempted at Southeast Milwaukie Avenue and Powell Boulevard. The driver of a BMW who was sliding in the intersection was located and arrested. He is identified as Makale O. Farias, 18, of Vancouver, Washington. His vehicle was seized. The road was reopened within 20 minutes. (24-194796)
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A fourth intersection takeover took place at 2:13a.m. at Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard. One of the involved drivers, who tried to flee the scene in his 2001 Ford Mustang, was arrested in 5900 block of Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.
Jeremiah M. Rund, 18, of St. Helens, Oregon, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Street Takeover, Reckless Driving, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person (24-194837). During the police intervention at the scene of the takeover, a man fired a firework (mortar) at police officers. He ran from police on foot but was overtaken and arrested at 2:22 a.m. Jaiden Jaenicke, 19, of Portland, was booked into jail on charges of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Escape in the Third Degree, and Interfering with a Peace Officer. (24-194837)
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Officers stopped a yellow Mustang near the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard as it was involved with a street takeover. The driver, Matthew Rogers, 23, from Rio Linda, California, was cited for no driver’s license and no insurance. The Mustang was impounded. (24-194725)
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At 3:10 a.m., a fifth attempted takeover near Lloyd Center. Officers broke it up within minutes.
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At 3:35 a.m., a sixth attempted intersection takeover took place at Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Northeast Lombard Street. The driver of a blue 2002 Ford Mustang was skidding in circles in the intersection. The driver tried to flee but was arrested at Northeast 27th Avenue and Northeast Bryant Street. He is 16 years old, from Milwaukie, Oregon. He was fingerprinted and released to his parents and is due in court later for Reckless Driving and Unlawful Street Takeover. His car was forfeited.
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Additional photographs of the evening’s activities are available on our Twitter/X page: https://x.com/PortlandPolice/status/1819918221379571806 . PPB and partner agencies plan to continue the street takeover/street racing suppression mission Sunday evening.
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