Grand jury: Portland officer acted in self defense in shooting robbery suspect

Portland — A Portland police officer was acting in self defense Oct. 25 when he shot an unarmed suspected bank robber in North Portland, a Multnomah County grand jury decided Wednesday.

A motion to publicly disclose grand jury testimony transcripts will be presented later to a judge, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release issued Thursday about the grand jury’s decision.

Officer Ryan Reagan wounded Chase Peeples, 25, of Tacoma in the incident. Peeples was treated nearly a month in a Portland hospital until Nov. 21 when he was transferred to the county jail.

According to a federal court affidavit, Peeples is accused of robbing an Ace Check Cashing store and a US Bank branch in North Portland. Officers spotted Peeples walking along North Oatman Avenue afterward.

Reagan, who has been with Portland police for 19 years, shot Peeples when police said he ignored orders to put his hands in the air and instead walked toward officers with his hands in his pockets. Peeples had no weapons, police said.

It is not clear how many times Peeples was shot or where. No one else was injured.