Date: September 20, 2025
Suspect: Bryan Velasco-Ruelas, 30
Bureau Members: Officer Spencer Foster, Officer Sammy Smith Jr
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, at approximately 8:45 a.m., East Precinct officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the 8400 block of Southeast Foster Road. When they arrived, officers determined a male adult, later identified as Bryan Velasco-Ruelas, 30, of Portland, was armed with a firearm and had threatened an employee at a service station before fleeing the scene. About thirty minutes later, officers located the suspect at a second service station in the area of Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Division Street. As officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop, there was an exchange of gunfire with the suspect who was struck. Officers rendered aid before the individual was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The involved officers were uninjured. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Additionally, at least one bullet struck a PPB vehicle and one struck a bystander's vehicle.
The involved officers are identified as:
Officer Spencer Foster, a 1-year veteran of PPB assigned to East Precinct
Officer Sammy Smith Jr, a 6-year veteran of PPB assigned to East Precinct
As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, on October 4, 2025, PPB released the bodyworn camera footage.
On October 9, 2025,the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office today filed a declination memo regarding the use of force by the Portland Police Officers against Bryan Velasco Ruelas on September 20, 2025. Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Brian Davidson reviewed the investigation into the shooting and concluded the use of force was justified under Oregon law and therefore not criminal.
A Multnomah County Grand Jury indicted Bryan Velasco Ruelas on 15 charges including four counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree. The case number is: 25CR56406.
As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau conducts an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
The Portland Police Bureau directive outlining the procedures followed after an in-custody death is Directive 1010.10
