David Dahlen, 24, who is facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly trying to kill a police officer, escaped from police custody on Saturday and remained at large on Tuesday
A massive manhunt is under way in Oregon after a suspect accused of trying to kill a cop escaped a secure room in a Portland police precinct that was mistakenly left unlocked by a COVID-19 cleaning crew.
Police arrested David Dahlen, 24, on Saturday on suspicion of ramming a stolen pickup into an officer on December 24, leaving her with serious injuries.
The Portland Police Bureau said on Monday that while Dahlen was in a holding cell in the detectives' division at the city's Justice Center waiting to be interviewed ahead of his booking into the county jail, two contracted workers doing COVID-19 disinfection opened the door and then closed it when they saw him.
Preliminary investigation shows the door didn't fully latch and investigators believe Dahlen pushed it open and exited the building through a stairwell, which was unlocked for fire safety reasons, police said in a news release.
A few minutes later, at 5.30pm, detectives went to check on Dahlen and discovered that he was gone. The building was locked down and a search began.
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Police say Dahlen was in a holding cell at Portland's Central Precinct when a COVID cleaning crew opened the door, realized the room was occupied and closed, but did not lock, it
Dahlen was arrested in connection to a December 24 incident at this gas station
Video captured Dahlen driving a stolen truck ramming it into Portland police officer Jennifer Pierce (left and right). The 15-year veteran suffered a broken pelvis
Surveillance video showed him running away from the building. Police scoured downtown and monitored public transit, but were unable to locate the fugitive.
Police had not found Dahlen as of Tuesday morning and are asking the public to call 911 if he is seen.
The Portland Police Bureau said it will be conducting an internal review of the agency's procedures regarding holding cells. It will contain recommendations for improving those procedures to prevent anything like this from happening again.
Dahlen is suspected of driving into Portland police Officer Jennifer Pierce, a 15-year veteran who was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis.
When officers tried to box in the stolen truck at the 76 gas station at the corner of Southeast Powell and Cesar Chavez boulevards before 9pm on Christmas Eve, the driver rammed into Pierce as she stood outside of her car, according to witnesses.
The stolen pickup truck (pictured in the distance) was later found abandoned
Pierce was pinned between the truck and her patrol car. The pickup driver then backed up and struck her again, as seen in bystander video that was obtained by KOIN.
Pierce then fired her gun at the truck. The pickup, which had been stolen from a Portland auto shop, was found abandoned shortly afterward.
Dahlen faces charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault, attempt of assault on a public safety officer, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and second-degree escape.
Dahlen is described as a white male, 5-foot-8 tall and weighing 170lbs. He was last seen wearing a green long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. Police say he has mud on his clothing.
