One Man Responsible For Crime Spree Through Portland Monday

PORTLAND, OR — Police identified Quinton Rickel Franklin as the man responsible for an apparent crime spree in Southwest Portland Monday evening that left one person injured and caused considerable delays during rush hour on Interstate-5.

Franklin, 26, was taken to Multnomah County Jail after he was released from hospital, police officials said. He is charged with reckless driving, failure to perform the duties of a driver to both an injured person and the victims of property damage, driving under the influence of intoxicants, robbery, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. His bail is set at $70,000.

Franklin, a Salem resident, was due to appear in Multnomah County court Tuesday for his arraignment.

According to Portland police, Franklin's crime spree began with a carjacking at Northwest Broadway and Northwest Glisan Street just before 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

When Central Precinct officers arrived at the scene they learned the then-unidentified suspect had carjacked a teal Hyundai Santa Fe, forcing multiple people from the vehicle at knifepoint, before running over a pedestrian while fleeing in the stolen car.

The man who was hit multiple times during Franklin's getaway was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Additional officers were called in to help search for the stolen Hyundai, but before they could locate it another 911 caller reported a roll-over crash involving a teal Hyundai in the southbound lanes of I-5 near the Southwest Capitol Highway.

According to the 911 caller, the driver of the Hyundai got out of the crashed vehicle and promptly forced his way into a silver Toyota Camry, ejecting the woman who was driving. She was uninjured in the process, police said.

The crash, however, reportedly caused a considerable backup on I-5, requiring the closure of three southbound lanes during rush hour.

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While some officers were dealing with the crash and interstate backup, others, including Tigard police officers, were now looking for the stolen Camry.

Tigard officers spotted Franklin and the stolen Camry close to the first crash site, but Franklin fled when the officers tried to pull him over.

Officers followed Franklin to the area around Southwest 29th Avenue and Southwest Multnomah Boulevard, where Franklin crashed into an occupied BMW sedan — though the BMW driver was not hurt in the crash.

After Franklin crashed the second time, officers used their cruisers to box in the Camry. Franklin was arrested shortly after without further incident.

Franklin was taken to hospital for evaluation and later placed in jail.

Franklin's criminal history in Oregon does not include anything remotely similar to the crimes he allegedly committed Monday. Driving violations and a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in Yamhill County the past February are all that appear on Franklin's record in Oregon.

Outside Oregon, Franklin was convicted of theft in Louisiana when he was 22.

Anyone with additional information about Monday's incidents is encourage to contact the Portland police robbery division at 503-823-0405.

Image via Portland Police Bureau