Date: March 8, 2018
Suspect: Sarah Michelle Brown, 26
Involved Officers: Officer Darrell Shaw and Officer Joseph Webber
On March 8, 2018, Central Precinct and Canine Unit officers responded to the report of a burglary in progress in the 800 block of Southwest King Avenue. During a search for the burglary suspect (later identified as Brown), officers located the suspect held-up in a storage area on the property where the burglary was reported. When officers contacted the suspect, there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police officers. The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded to the location after the exchange of gunfire. The suspect was eventually taken into custody. Once in custody, officers learned the suspect had been struck by gunfire. The suspect was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. After treatment for her injuries she was lodged at the Multnomah County Jail.
During a search of the crime scene, investigators located and seized the firearm believed to have been used by Brown during the shooting.
On Thursday March 22, 2018, the Portland Police Bureau was notified that a Multnomah County Grand Jury determined Portland Police Bureau officers were justified in the use of deadly force in the shooting of 26-year-old Sarah Michelle Brown (also known as Alexis Elizabeth Wilder). The grand jury determined that the use of deadly force against Brown was justified under Oregon law.
As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau conducts an internal review of the entire incident and the case goes 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's directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer-involved shooting may be found in Directive 1010.10.