After the original owner of a house in Northeast Portland left due to sickness, police detained many occupants, according to authorities.
“A home in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood has been cleared of squatters and suspects engaged in other criminal activity, leading to several arrests and seizure of drugs, guns, and stolen property,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a press release.
“A significant source of disruption in the neighborhood, generating a high volume of police calls over the past year and complaints from neighbors,” according to PPB, was the house located in the 220 block of Northeast 102nd Avenue.
According to police, many PPB units, including the East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team, the Special Emergency Reaction Team, the Crisis Negotiation Team, the K9 Unit, and the drone unit, responded to the arrests on Tuesday.
According to police, “the homeowner was facing medical challenges and was no longer living at the location” as a result of the inquiry.
“While he was away, the home had been taken over by multiple individuals involved in criminal activity, including a drug dealer and an individual posing as a landlord who was illegally charging people to live on the property,” police said.
After a Multnomah County court authorized a search warrant, it was carried out at the property, and officers reported the following findings:
- 13 people contacted
- 9 arrests on various charges and outstanding warrants
- 1 illegal firearm recovered
- 22 grams of methamphetamine
- 13 grams of fentanyl
- 1 gram of cocaine
- $1,440 in cash seized
- 1 stolen motorcycle recovered
- A significant amount of ammunition
- Evidence of identity theft and fraud
- Evidence of narcotics distribution
According to the police, they are collaborating with the care team and the property owner’s family to retake control of the house and maintain neighborhood safety.
