The Portland Police called out the Special Enforcement Response Team to arrest a suspect who has been involved in two standoffs this week.Portland Bureau of Police
Portland police identified the suspect accused in two standoffs this week before being taken into custody.
Raul Nava Jr., 44, was the suspect allegedly involved in an armed standoff on Monday and another standoff with police on Wednesday that ended with his arrest in the afternoon, authorities said. Nava was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center, KOIN reports.
On Wednesday, police said they activated their Special Emergency Reaction Team in Northwest Portland after locating a wanted suspect in connection to a standoff on Monday.
Police said the activity was in connection with someone who was involved in a previous standoff on Monday night in which a suspect had been armed with knives.
On Wednesday evening, Portland Police Chief Bob Day explained he “made the decision to make this arrest a priority” after believing the suspect posed a risk to himself and the community.
Nava Jr. was occupying a tent, Sgt. Kevin Allen said. Some streets were blocked off while the SERT, Crisis Negotiation Team and other officers moved in. The SERT team used their armored vehicles to surround the tent so the suspect could not run, prioritizing getting him “contained,” Allen said.
There were no injuries during the course of the arrest of the suspect, who is currently being transported to jail. However, officers did make use of OC and CS gas and a police robot during the operation, Allen said.
