Beaverton, OR – A 29-year-old man was taken into custody Saturday evening after allegedly attempting to evade Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies in a Beaverton neighborhood.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 5:48 p.m. Saturday near the 4900 block of Southwest Greensboro Way. Deputies attempted to contact the man, identified as Rafael Ortiz, who was allegedly wanted on multiple felony warrants and reportedly associated with a domestic violence assault case from late March.
Authorities said Ortiz allegedly fled on foot toward the Westside Trail, where he reportedly hid in blackberry bushes in an attempt to avoid arrest. A K9 unit, led by Corporal Sam Terry and K9 Griff, responded to the scene and began tracking the suspect.
Investigators allege the K9 located Ortiz hiding along the trail near Southwest 160th Avenue. After Ortiz allegedly ignored commands to surrender, K9 Griff was deployed and successfully apprehended him.
Officials said Ortiz sustained puncture wounds during the apprehension and was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the Washington County Jail.
Ortiz is facing multiple charges, including alleged assault in the fourth degree, coercion, escape in the third degree, harassment, and violation of a release agreement. Authorities also noted he had several additional outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
K9 Griff, a 6-year-old German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, has reportedly been with the sheriff’s office since 2021 and has contributed to numerous apprehensions.
The case remains under investigation.
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