Portland Police Arrest Suspect After he Fled the Scene of a Traffic Crash

Thursday, May 05, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team

Monte Wes McMullen

Portland Police have arrested Monte Wes McMullen, 29, after he ran from a traffic crash on Wednesday morning. McMullen was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, failure to perform the duties of a driver, reckless driving, and attempt to elude on foot.

Officers also learned that the vehicle McMullen crashed was a stolen car with switched license plates. Officers also determined that the gun found inside the car was a replica firearm, not a real gun.

The Incident

North Precinct and traffic officers responded to the report of a traffic crash involving two drivers on southbound I-5 at the Going Street exit.

As officers responded, the 9-1-1 caller reported that one of the vehicles was on it's side and that the driver was running away from the scene.

Police contacted a person matching the driver's description on the MAX platform on the North Interstate AVenue, but he ran from police into the neighborhood. Officers checking the neighborhood located the driver and took him into custody.

Officers checking the flipped vehicle found a handgun inside the car.

The crash resulted in no injuries.