Hostage Crisis in Portland: Armed Man Seizes Trimet Bus, Standoff Ends by Chemical Agent Deployment
PORTLAND, Ore. — A man has been taken into custody and charged after traffic was brought to a standstill in Old Town, Portland, yesterday (Wednesday) when a Trimet bus driver and an unknown number of passengers were held hostage at gunpoint.
Hours-Long Siege Ends After Chemical Agent Lobbed Onboard Bus
The hours-long siege, during which the area was cordoned off to traffic and pedestrians, finally ended when a chemical agent was tossed into the bus by members of the Portland Police Bureau’s Quick Response Team.
Suspect Identified and Charged
The PPB has released the identity of the suspect hijacker as 33-year-old Hosea J. Chambers of Portland.
He was transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center and charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, reckless endangerment, coercion, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, interfering with public transportation, felon in possession of a firearm, and the illegal discharge of a weapon.
The incident occurred at 12.15 p.m. in the Northwest 3rd Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street area of the Old Town.
PPB was alerted that a gun-toting male was pointing the weapon at passers-by. A few minutes later, witnesses said shots were fired. The suspect then boarded a Trimet bus occupied by a driver and an unknown number of passengers.
It is understood that the passengers were allowed to exit the bus with the help of the driver who was then instructed by the suspect to drive around before returning to the same spot in the Old Town where the drama began.
The driver was allowed to exit the bus, but the suspect remained seated, refusing to exit.
Police were able to recover the firearm and the Quick Response Team and crisis negotiators then took control of the scene. A chemical agent was eventually tossed into the bus and the man exited without incident and was taken into custody.
The PPB appeals to witnesses and victims from the incident who have not spoken to the police to contact Detective Joseph Corona at [email protected] (503) 823-0508 or Detective Jennifer Hertzler at [email protected] (503) 823-1040 and reference case number 25-25500.