Deputy opens fire on man who brandished knife
PORTLAND, Ore. - A man is in the hospital after sheriff's investigators say a deputy opened fire when he was attacked.
The incident happened just before 4 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 16000 block of Northwest Laidlaw Road, in the Bethany area.
"It's a little frightening," said Chris Caldwell, who lives nearby. "I have never seen an emergency response to this magnitude."
According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, police were called to the home for a welfare check and a man who opened the door slightly suddenly attacked one of the responding deputies with a knife. The deputy then fired at the man, hitting him "at least once," the sheriff's office said in a press release.
The suspect was later identified as 49-year-old Jeffrey Holmes. Investigators said Holmes was able to slightly injure one deputy with the knife before he was shot. The deputy's injury was minor and he was treated at the scene.
Deputies said Holmes had life-threatening injuries.
The sheriff's office has not said how many shots were fired but witnesses told KATU News they heard around five.
Holmes was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries are not known at this point but he was in surgery late Sunday. His condition has not been released.
Holmes family requested the welfare check. The sheriff's office did not say what exactly prompted the family to make a call. Holmes was home alone when the incident took place.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office said they had been in contact with Holmes in the past but they did not say why.
Other Recent Deputy-Involved Shootings in Washington County:
A bit tongue-in-cheek, but after Lukus Glenn, I'm surprised that the Washington County Sheriff's Office still does welfare checks. Maybe this man has a relative that needs $2.5 million.
Number one rule. Never bring a knife to a gunfight!
Very traumatic for deputy too. Mr. Undertone has no clue what happens to an officer after something like this. You are in the center of a spotlight and feel everyone judges your actions taken when you had seconds to recognize a threat, realize you could die and respond to the threat.  Even when he is right there are those without a clue who immediatly want to throw the officer under the bus. I hope the deputy and his family are fine. Â
You are so right! And you never get over it, no matter how long ago it was! It is a career ender for many in LE, even if you did everything by the book, and were cleared by the GJ inquest. Some of us survived and completed our careers. Â
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 @Caspertoo Yes. KATUpedia. Man I would love to see that.
I'm guessing a mental illness case (with maybe some booze & drugs thrown in)Â was why the police were called for welfare check.
UNDERTONE, you might just want to back your moron BUS up about 10 feet.. The cop WAS ATTACKED. what would you do UNDER drop to you knees an pray???/Â
"Â police were called to the home for a welfare check"Â Welcome to the open air prison colony, formaly known as the land of the free, now a militaristic police state.
@undertone Welfare checks is a term used by the police as a visit to check on someone's well being, usually at the behest of a concerned friend or family member. This is why you hear about police doing welfare checks on the elderly or disabled during times of extreme weather.
Moron.....
@undertone You're an idiot. Welfare checks are to your benefit Che.
If the police had a choice between responding to a bank robbery with hostages or a domestic call (welfare, disturbance, etc), they would take the bank robbery. Domestic calls are very unpredictable and can quickly escalate into something more serious and deadly. Â
 @theobserver It's also sadly what they spend 80% of their time doing...baby sitting the kids that never grew up and put their big pants on.
Absolutely true!
The old saying used to be that it was the domestic calls that are the most dangerous.
 @Rob C I am no good with names BUT ... we just about lost a deputy in Clackamas County who was on a domestic call. Kid was out of control and shot the deputy in the face. Deputy lived but will never serve as a deputy again.
Â
@Cindy B. .......Cindy, I remember Damon Coates. That's the one you're speaking of? Truly tragic. Thank God there are people who want to serve in that capacity. And I hope Damon is still doing well
Thank you Rob. Damon worked with my son-in-law and we all felt the impact of his injuries. Many professions form "work families" and the corrections/enforcement community is like that as well.
@Cindy B. @Rob C Damon Coates.
Actually, if you get right down to it, there is no such thing as a "routine" call for service! They all have the potential for being dangerous, with a "use of force" incident always possible! Â