Gresham Police Help Recover Stolen Cars, Seize Drugs, Arrest 12 People

GRESHAM, OR — The Gresham Police Department assisted the Multnomah County Sheriff's office Sunday night in carrying out an operation that aimed to reduce reckless and impaired driving as well as recover stolen cars and other vehicles, officials said Tuesday. The agencies stopped 57 vehicles in Gresham and other parts of East Multnomah County, according to officials.

The traffic stops resulted in the arrest of 12 people on charges including attempted assault of a police officer, DUI, possession and distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl), reckless driving and violating warrants, officials said.

Two stolen cars were recovered during the operation, according to officials.

"In response to the county’s dramatic rise in violent crimes, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, along with our public safety partners, has implemented data-driven violence reductions strategies," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "One solution is performing patrol missions in hot-spot areas where traffic-related fatalities and gun violence intersect."

The agencies started conducting these operations in mid-April – this was the third one. Since they started, nine stolen vehicles have been recovered, 45 have been arrested and 173 traffic stops have been performed, officials said.