Portland police give Heroism medal to motorcyclist
This is a press release courtesy of the Portland Police Bureau
In the evening of March 12, 2007, Portland Police Officer Robert Wullbrandt, was working patrol in Southeast Precinct, when he pulled over a black Buick Regal for a traffic violation near the area of Southeast 39th Avenue and Holgate.
As Officer Wullbrandt was conducting the traffic stop in a grocery store parking lot, one of three people in the car, jumped out of the backseat and began to run.
The officer began a foot pursuit, and as he caught up to the subject, the man turned, aimed a gun and fired at the officer. The subject continued running toward Southeast Holgate firing at least one additional round before he ran around the corner and into a nearby apartment complex.
During this violent confrontation, Greg Geist was riding his motorcycle on 39th Avenue, and was stopped at a red light, preparing to turn onto Holgate street. Mr. Geist heard a gunshot and saw a man fall, get up and continue running as he was being chased by a police officer. It was at that point, Mr. Geist realized the subject held a semi-automatic pistol in his right hand.
As the man continued running in a labored jog, at one point, Mr. Geist found himself in the dangerous position of being between the suspect and the officer. But the man continued to run and reached Holgate, fell, but then got up again and began to walk slowly, looking over his shoulder repeatedly at the officer, who had now taken cover behind a building on the corner of Southeast Holgate and 39th.
Mr. Geist watched as the suspect continued walking on Holgate and made the decision to turn his motorcycle onto Holgate and pull into an apartment complex so he could continue to watch the shooter's progress. As the suspect continued walking another block and turned alongside of the apartment building, Mr. Geist began to lose sight of him.
He drove his motorcycle west on Holgate until he relocated the suspect and saw him walk into the sliding glass door of an apartment. Mr. Geist then located responding officers, pointed out the specific apartment that the suspect had entered and provided a detailed description of him.
The Portland Police Bureau activated its Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Hostage Negotiation Team, and evacuated nearby residents. After several hours, Hostage Negotiators were able to talk the suspect into surrendering and he was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect, who was wanted on a drug warrant, was charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder.
Without Mr. Geist's assistance, even with a thorough canvassing of the area, the dangerous suspect might not have been apprehended. Mr. Geist's detailed description of the events and the suspect was a tremendous asset to all involved.
Mr. Geist had just witnessed a suspect who had demonstrated a willingness to shoot his gun, but despite this danger, Mr. Geist continued to follow him with the goal of getting as much information on his whereabouts to help police.
For his actions Mr. Greg Geist is awarded the Portland Police Bureau's Civilian Heroism Medal for his actions.
- ROSANNE M. SIZER, Chief of Police
In the evening of March 12, 2007, Portland Police Officer Robert Wullbrandt, was working patrol in Southeast Precinct, when he pulled over a black Buick Regal for a traffic violation near the area of Southeast 39th Avenue and Holgate.
As Officer Wullbrandt was conducting the traffic stop in a grocery store parking lot, one of three people in the car, jumped out of the backseat and began to run.
The officer began a foot pursuit, and as he caught up to the subject, the man turned, aimed a gun and fired at the officer. The subject continued running toward Southeast Holgate firing at least one additional round before he ran around the corner and into a nearby apartment complex.
During this violent confrontation, Greg Geist was riding his motorcycle on 39th Avenue, and was stopped at a red light, preparing to turn onto Holgate street. Mr. Geist heard a gunshot and saw a man fall, get up and continue running as he was being chased by a police officer. It was at that point, Mr. Geist realized the subject held a semi-automatic pistol in his right hand.
As the man continued running in a labored jog, at one point, Mr. Geist found himself in the dangerous position of being between the suspect and the officer. But the man continued to run and reached Holgate, fell, but then got up again and began to walk slowly, looking over his shoulder repeatedly at the officer, who had now taken cover behind a building on the corner of Southeast Holgate and 39th.
Mr. Geist watched as the suspect continued walking on Holgate and made the decision to turn his motorcycle onto Holgate and pull into an apartment complex so he could continue to watch the shooter's progress. As the suspect continued walking another block and turned alongside of the apartment building, Mr. Geist began to lose sight of him.
He drove his motorcycle west on Holgate until he relocated the suspect and saw him walk into the sliding glass door of an apartment. Mr. Geist then located responding officers, pointed out the specific apartment that the suspect had entered and provided a detailed description of him.
The Portland Police Bureau activated its Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Hostage Negotiation Team, and evacuated nearby residents. After several hours, Hostage Negotiators were able to talk the suspect into surrendering and he was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect, who was wanted on a drug warrant, was charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder.
Without Mr. Geist's assistance, even with a thorough canvassing of the area, the dangerous suspect might not have been apprehended. Mr. Geist's detailed description of the events and the suspect was a tremendous asset to all involved.
Mr. Geist had just witnessed a suspect who had demonstrated a willingness to shoot his gun, but despite this danger, Mr. Geist continued to follow him with the goal of getting as much information on his whereabouts to help police.
For his actions Mr. Greg Geist is awarded the Portland Police Bureau's Civilian Heroism Medal for his actions.
- ROSANNE M. SIZER, Chief of Police