Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: Suspect caught a week after shooting of 2 Portland Police officers – Legal Perspective
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — On Monday, police arrested the suspect accused of shooting and seriously injuring two officers in the Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood of Northeast Portland a week ago.
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) confirmed that the suspect is Eric Oelkers, 41, who is being held at the Multnomah County Jail on several charges, including two felony counts of attempted murder.
One of the officers was released from the hospital shortly after the shooting, while the other will be going home from the hospital today.
Chief Bob Day, Mayor Keith Wilson and several other law enforcement & city leaders are expected to hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. – you can watch it below:
Court records show Oelkers’ criminal history dates back more than two decades, with convictions on crimes ranging from menacing, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.
He was also convicted of bias crime and criminal mischief for allegedly vandalizing a Salem business during the riot at the Oregon Capitol in December of 2020.
He was the center of a statewide search in 2019 for a parole violation tied to a previous conviction on gun crimes.
Oelkers’ most recent charges stem from an alleged bank robbery in May of 2022. He has a pending bench warrant in the case for failing to check in with pretrial release officer.
Officers took Oelkers into custody shortly before 8 a.m. after shutting down NE 82nd Ave. between Columbia Boulevard and Alderwood Road.
READ MORE | Police receive nearly 200 tips as they continue manhunt for suspect who shot two officers
The shooting took place around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19 when two officers responded to a 9-1-1 call about someone threatening a stranger with a knife.
When officers located the suspect, he shot at them and fled. It is unclear what the interaction had been with officers prior to the shooting. Officers did not fire back.
The two officers who were shot were taken to the hospital.
At Monday’s press conference, officials said the second officer was being released from the hospital on Monday (Jan. 26).
The suspect was taken to Central Precinct for questioning, police said.
READ MORE | Two officers shot, injured in NE Portland’s Lloyd District; suspect still at large
PPB officials said last Friday that detectives received many tips from the public related to the investigation.
The U.S. Marshals Office and other state and federal agencies assisted in this investigation.