Armed suspect sought after NW Portland break-in Thursday

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Authorities are searching for an armed suspect in Northwest Portland after he broke into an apartment Thursday morning, according to police.

Residents in the area were alerted to shelter in place via text, email, and/or voice message on PublicAlerts, but the notice was lifted as of just after 4 p.m.

Police responded to the area of 1400 NW Pettygrove Street after receiving a report that the suspect had “broken into an apartment of someone known to him” around 11:15 a.m. 

When officers arrived, the suspect reportedly fled from the area. Police then set up a search perimeter in the area of NW 19th Avenue and Upshur Street.

Police said the investigation led them to a group of tents in the area of Northwest 19th Avenue and Northwest Upshur Street.

"Officers surrounded the area and attempted to contact the suspect, but they were unsuccessful," Portland Police Bureau said in a release. "As there was no safe way to know if the tent was occupied with an armed suspect, the incident commander recognized that tactical teams with additional tools, training, and resources would be needed."

PPB's Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were called in to help look for the suspect and the search went underway at 1:18 p.m.

Police determined the tent that the suspect was possibly occupying was empty. At 4:02 p.m., they cleared the scene and the shelter-in-place was lifted.

PPB said the suspect is still being sought but isn't being identified yet due to investigative reaons.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.