Portland police shoot man in downtown as President Biden travels to volunteer meetup

By Lillian Mongeau Hughes (OPB)
Oct. 15, 2022 3:55 a.m. Updated: Oct. 15, 2022 3:36 p.m.

An officer-involved shooting investigation began around the time President Joe Biden arrived in Portland for a two-day visit.

A man shot by a Portland police officer Friday has been released from a hospital after receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Officers initially released few details Friday night in a brief statement about the shooting, which occurred at Southwest 12th Avenue and Southwest Jefferson Street.

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The first information about the shooting arrived as President Joe Biden was en route from Air Force One to SEIU Local 49 in Southeast Portland to meet with Democratic lawmakers and campaign volunteers. More information on the shooting was not immediately available, the police report said, “due to other significant events underway.”

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Minutes after the first alert was sent out by police, Biden arrived at the union hall “after an uneventful ride” to meet volunteers making calls to voters. He greeted Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Democratic candidate for governor, Tina Kotek, according to pool reports.

In another press release issued late Friday night, PPB said officers were dispatched at 6:07 p.m. to reported suspicious circumstances in the area of Southwest 13th Avenue and Southwest Jefferson Street. According to a 911 caller, a man was chasing people with a knife. The first officer arrived at the scene within two minutes and located a man who matched the description of the armed person a block away. After the officer approached the man, PPB said the officer fired his weapon and the man was injured. According to police, officers provided immediate medical aid to the man, including applying a tourniquet.

The man, later identified by police as 45-year-old Jeremy J. Rieck, was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. As of Saturday morning, Rieck was released from the hospital and booked into the Multnomah County Jail. He faces charges of second-degree attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon and a parole detainer.

Streets in the area remained closed Friday night as officers and detectives investigated.

Under PPB protocol, the officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leave. The officer has yet not been identified. The bureau has withheld the names of officers who use weapons on duty since the end of July.

The officer’s use of force will be investigated internally by PPB and then the shooting case will go before the Police Review Board.

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