Man who grabbed boy in street gets 2 years in prison

PORTLAND, Ore. - A man who grabbed a 12-year-old boy out of a truck, took him hostage and threatened to kill him was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday.

Casey Betts, 43, will also be required to serve five years probation.

The incident happened last July in the 11800 block of Southeast Yamhill Street.

Police were called there after getting reports that a man had entered a home, unsuccessfully tried to grab a girl and then pushed another resident out of the way as he left.

When officers got there, Betts was standing in the middle of the street with his arm around a 12-year-old boy's neck. The kid had just gotten out of a truck with his cousins and uncle.

"The guy came out of nowhere," the boy told KATU at the time. "He grabbed me and I tried to go back in (the truck). Then he pulled me like this and tried to choke me."

Betts was choking the boy with one arm and holding a rock in his other hand.

Officers drew their weapons and ordered Betts to let the kid go but he did not comply. Other officers ended up sneaking up behind Betts and shocking him with stun guns. That's when the boy was able to get away.

"I ran to my house, got inside and went to the living room with my mom," he said.

Investigators believe Betts grabbed the boy so that police would show up and kill him, a tactic known as 'suicide by cop.'