GLADSTONE, Ore. — Members of a SWAT team shot a man at a Subway restaurant in a southern Portland suburb Monday evening after the man shot a police officer and took a woman hostage, authorities said.
Authorities said the hostage is safe and the officer, who was shot in his protective vest, is OK. The suspect, 45-year-old Jeffrey Carl Giddings, survived and will be booked into jail after he’s released from the hospital.
The chain of events started after an officer stopped Giddings for a traffic violation, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Brian Jensen said at a news conference Monday night. Giddings, who was wanted for heroin possession in another county, was riding a bicycle.
The suspect fled but was found by Gladstone police Sgt. Lee Jundt. Giddings pulled a gun and shot Jundt in his police vest, officials said.
The man then entered Subway. He took one woman hostage and others inside were either allowed to leave or they escaped, Jensen said.
A multi-agency SWAT team responded and tried to negotiate with Giddings, whom Jensen said made several demands and was not giving up. He said the woman feared for her life at that point.
Officers fired at Giddings, hitting him, and once he was down, officers entered and got the woman out safely, Jensen said.
The suspect was taken to a Portland hospital by ambulance.
Court records show Giddings has been arrested numerous times in Klamath County over the past two decades. Besides drug violations, some of his crimes include burglary, theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and felon in possession of a firearm.
Jundt has been with the department for 20 years, Gladstone Police Chief Jeff Jolley said.
Jensen said a major crime team is investigating and that the woman will be offered counseling.
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