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PORTLAND, Ore. — Police say they were able to safely place a man into custody in connection with several assaults in northeast Portland.
On July 17, officers were first called to the 2700 block of Northeast Weidler Street after someone reported a suspect hit their car with a handsaw.
As officers responded to the area, police said several more 911 calls came in regarding this same suspect.
Portland police said 911-callers reported the suspect had assaulted several people with the handsaw and a belt, including two victims inside a laundromat, broke several car's windshields, and threatened people with the handsaw.
Officers found the suspect near the 2100 block of Northeast Weidler Street.
According to Portland Police, officers ordered the suspect to stop and drop the handsaw.
The suspect refused to drop the handsaw, continued westbound on Northeast Weidler Street, and told officers he was going to make them shoot him, police said.
The suspect walked into the middle of traffic and continued to ignore multiple commands given by officers to drop the saw, according to police.
Police said officers tried to get the suspect to calm down, he continued to yell at them and said they were going to have to hurt him to get him to stop.
While the suspect yelled at officers, he advanced toward them with the handsaw, according to Portland Police. Officers gave several more verbal warnings to the suspect.
The suspect continued his erratic behavior and officers used a less-lethal munition at the suspect, according to Portland Police.
The suspect threw the handsaw to the curb and officers once again began talking to him in an effort to deescalate the situation, police said.
As officers spoke with the suspect, several bystanders interrupted their conversation with him by screaming and taunting the officers, only increasing his level of agitation again.
Eventually, police said through calm conversation and active listening, officers were able to place the suspect into custody safely.