Pot plant theft suspects confronted in Damascus

PORTLAND, Ore. – Law enforcement officers from five different agencies captured one suspect and were hunting for another Friday after shots were fired during an alleged burglary attempt at a rural Damascus home. 

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said they received a call from a person at the home at about 3 a.m. Friday morning.

The caller, Nick Gonzalez, said his father, Nick Damion Gonzalez Sr., 48, had gone outside to investigate after an unknown vehicle pulled into the driveway of their rural home.

Shortly after Gonzalez Sr. went to investigate the vehicle, multiple gunshots were heard.

Investigators have not said who fired the shots and there was no mention of anyone being injured in a law enforcement press release.

Investigators said Gonzalez Sr. confronted the suspects and tried to box in their vehicle with his own car but the suspects were able to flee.

Gonzalez Sr. then returned to his house and informed Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputies that the two suspects were driving a Cadillac Escalade SUV with Crater Lake license plates.

Minutes later, an off-duty Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputy driving home in his patrol car spotted the Cadillac Escalade and gave chase. 

The chase entered Interstate 205 heading towards Portland and ended in the Lents neighborhood area of southeast Portland. One person jumped from the Escalade and was apprehended by police.

Another person also fled and has not been found.

Investigators said uprooted marijuana plants and a .40 caliber pistol were found in the SUV.

Police said Nick Gonzalez has a valid Oregon Medical Marijuana Growers license and had recently harvested some plants from a small growing operation located in an outbuilding on the Damascus property.

The uprooted plants allegedly taken in the burglary had not been harvested but were described as “mature.”

The suspect in custody was identified as Steven Ronald Pickard, 31, of southeast Portland. He faces charges including robbery, burglary and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $280,000.

He is being held in the Clackamas County Sheriff's jail. Officers continue to look for the other suspect.

Police agencies that assisted the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office include the Oregon City Police Department, Oregon State Police, Milwaukie Police Department and the Portland Police Bureau.