Portland man accused of ramming Tigard police cars in Walmart parking lot

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Portland man was arrested days after a chaotic scene unfolded in a Walmart parking lot in Tigard last week, authorities said.

Richard Wilson, 47, is accused of ramming several police cars during a stolen vehicle investigation, Tigard police said. He now faces 20 charges.

The Tigard Police Department also released a video showing the perspective of multiple officers wearing body cameras during the incident on Oct. 24 just after 10 a.m. at the Walmart parking lot at 7800 SW Dartmouth Street.

The video shows multiple police cars attempting to block a vehicle. The car then rams the police cars in front of it, then backs up over a curb, hitting a fire hydrant as some officers who are on foot move out of the vehicle's path to avoid getting hit.

Earlier that day, a man in Portland reported his car had been stolen in a burglary and traced its location to the Tigard Walmart.

"As plain-clothed detectives responded to the scene, a man and woman came out of the store and got back in the stolen car," a Tigard police release said. "Police officers in marked patrol cars boxed in the stolen car to try and prevent the driver from leaving."

After ramming four police cars, damaging two other parked cars, and "nearly hitting at least two officers in the process," the car headed toward Portland on I-5. Tigard police initially pursued the driver but then discontinued the chase for safety reasons, officials said. No one was hurt in the incident.

Portland police recovered the stolen car the next day, on Oct. 25.

On Monday, Oct. 28, Tigard police found Wilson near apartments on Southwest Hunziker Road. He ran into the woods but was located via a K-9 team in a collapsed pop-up trailer in someone's backyard on Southwest Cherry Drive, officials said.

Specialized units from multiple law enforcement agencies responded, including the Washington County Tactical Negotiation Team, the Crisis Negotiations Unit, and drone teams from Tigard and Sherwood police. After more than an hour of communicating with Wilson, he finally came out and was safely arrested, authorities said.

Wilson faces charges that include six counts of reckless endangering, four counts of hit-and-run, four counts of second-degree criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police, driving with a suspended license, stolen vehicle possession, reckless driving and parole violation. He is being lodged in the Washington County Jail.