Local law enforcement agencies teamed up for another successful stolen vehicle mission in East Multnomah County, recovering 11 stolen vehicles and making 10 arrests.
The Stolen Vehicle Operation was conducted by the Portland Police Bureau, Gresham Police Department and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Friday evening, Jan. 26. The trio of agencies patrolled the Lents, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Pleasant Valley, Montavilla, Parkrose Heights, Hazelwood, Russell, and Mill Park Neighborhoods. Also supporting were Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Vancouver Police Department, both of which held parallel missions in their jurisdictions. The Facebook group, PDX Stolen Cars, also assisted by reporting the stolen vehicles.
During the mission, one stolen vehicle was recovered every two stops. In addition to the arrests, 10 active warrants were serviced. Three drivers attempted to elude police and two were pursued. Five vehicles were towed and one firearm was recovered.
One of the arrests occurred at 3:34 p.m. near the intersection of Southeast Powell Boulevard and Southeast 122nd Avenue. A driver in a stolen car spotted the officers and preemptively attempted to elude, whipping around the block and pulling over. Officers took the driver, Aaron S. Cox, 34, into custody after being found illegally possessing a loaded handgun. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public. A passenger, Raymond D. Kerbs, 52, was also arrested on a felony warrant.