Gresham Officers Cleared In Fatal Shooting

GRESHAM, OR — Gresham police officers Joshua Price and Brendon Hayes killed Dmitri Brigham Bullard on May 17, after Bullard charged the pair while wielding a hatchet. On June 18, a Multnomah County grand jury determined the officers were legally justified in their use of lethal force, according to Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill.

Formally returning a "not true bill," the grand jury reportedly decided against criminal prosecution in Bullard's death.

As previously reported on Patch, Price and Hayes encountered Bullard while the officers were following up on a report that a man was prowling cars in southeast Gresham just before midnight on May 17.

After the officers spotted Bullard's vehicle near Southwest Butler Road and Southeast Regner Road they tried to pull him over, but Bullard fled and the officers — out of concern for public safety — did not pursue him.

Bullard was spotted again a short time later driving normally on Southwest Butler Road, neat Southeast 190th Drive. But when officers tried to stop him again, Bullard fled once again and the officers did not pursue him.

Bullard's car was found minutes later, after he crashed on Southwest Pleasant View Drive.

When officers caught up to him at the crash scene, Bullard reportedly got out of his crashed vehicle carrying a hatchet and charged at Price and Hayes — who responded by opening fire, killing Bullard.

Related:

Police ID Hatchet-Wielding Man Killed By Gresham Officers

Image via Gresham Police Department