The reviewing prosecutor determined the actions of Vancouver officers were lawful acts
On Wednesday, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced the release of a prosecution decline memorandum following the conclusion of an investigation into the Feb. 5 use of deadly physical force by two Vancouver Police Department members and the authorization to use deadly physical force by a Vancouver Police sergeant.
The reviewing prosecutor determined the actions of Vancouver Police Officer James Porter, Vancouver Police Corporal Ryan Starbuck and Vancouver Police Sgt. Joe Graaf were lawful acts.
A copy of the prosecution decline memorandum can be obtained by clicking here.
As detailed in the memorandum, on Feb. 5, Officer Porter, Cpl. Starbuck and other members of law enforcement were actively attempting to apprehend Erkinson Bossy, an armed murder suspect out of Cowlitz County.
The pursuit originated in Vancouver and entered Multnomah County via southbound I-205. Officer Porter fired multiple rounds from his rifle while in pursuit of Bossy after it appeared to Officer Porter that Bossy was pointing a firearm at him and his partner.
Upon hearing that Officer Porter had transmitted a call of “shots fired,” Sgt. Graaf authorized a Pursuit Immobilization/Intervention Technique (“PIT”) maneuver.
While on I-84 westbound, in between Northeast 33rd and Northeast 12th Avenues, Cpl. Starbuck initiated a “PIT” maneuver on Bossy’s vehicle, which ended the pursuit.
No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, including any police reports, because Erkinson is pending trial for murder in Cowlitz County.
Information provided by Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
