Portland Police Bureau
06/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/27/2024 18:09
Suspects Face Felony Charges After Seizure of a Full Auto Pistol and Revolver (Photo)
June 27, 2024 17:01
Two suspects face felony charges after officers seized a pistol modified to fire fully automatically.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 4:43p.m., Portland Police officers assigned to the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) conducted a traffic stop at Northeast 74th Avenue and Northeast Lombard Street on a vehicle occupied by a 16-year-old wanted on a menacing case and linked to multiple gun-related crimes. During his arrest, officers found a semiautomatic handgun outfitted with an aftermarket auto-sear switch that made the pistol capable of fully automatic fire (photo).
The 16-year-old was booked into the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, Unlawful Use of a Weapon (2 counts), Unlawful Possession of Firearms (2 counts), and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code).
The driver, Demaria D. Preston, 23, was found with an illegally possessed revolver (photo) and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public (city code).
Both suspects were referred to services under the Portland Ceasefire program.
For years, Portland Police officers have seized pistols with auto sears attached, which make them capable of firing an entire 17-round magazine in less than half a second. The devices are widely available for purchase online. A handgun with an auto sear switch attached fits the definition of a machine gun under United States federal law and are unlawful to possess under most circumstances. The penalties for possession of an unregistered machine gun in the United States are up to a $250,000 fine and prison sentences of up to 10 years. PPB does not keep statistics on how many such firearms are seized, but anecdotally, officers regularly encounter them.
The Bureau's Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST) work in partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) on a focused deterrence strategy to reduce gun violence called Portland Ceasefire. This citywide strategy centers on collaboration among Portland's Community Safety Division and Office of Violence Prevention, City leaders, the Portland Police Bureau, and community groups.
More information about Portland Ceasefire is available here: https://www.portland.gov/community-safety/ceasefire
The Focused Intervention Team (FIT) is comprised of a Lieutenant, two Sergeants and 12 Officers who were selected to be a part of this specialty unit tasked with helping address gun violence in the city. In between emergency calls, FIT builds relationships with community members and proactively deters violence consistent with their mandate. FIT is overseen by a group of community volunteers known as the Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group, or FITCOG. The FITCOG commenced in June 2021 in response to the gun violence crisis in Portland to work with the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) and assist with recommendations to reduce gun violence through prevention, intervention, and response. For more information, see their website: https://www.portland.gov/fitcog . FIT also collaborates with ECST, a team of Sergeants, Detectives, and Officers which focuses on investigating shootings.
FIT and ECST consider all gunfire aimed at Portland community members to be attempted murder cases. Eyewitnesses or video evidence are crucial in solving these cases and these crime victims need people to come forward with any information. If anyone has information about any shooting case, please contact [email protected] .
Information can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Oregon. Anyone wishing to submit a secure and anonymous tip regarding any unsolved felony crime should visit http://www.crimestoppersoforegon.com or visit the App Store and download P3 Tips for your mobile device.
Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters remain anonymous.
Crime Stoppers of Oregon is funded 100% by community donations. To support Crime Stoppers with a donation, or to view other unsolved cases, please visit http://www.crimestoppersoforegon.com/ .
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