Portland Man Killed During Standoff With California SWAT

LONG BEACH, CA — A Portland man was killed by SWAT officers in Long Beach, California, Wednesday following a two-hour standoff on Long Beach Boulevard. Law enforcement authorities say Donald McFarlane told police he had explosives in his vehicle and threatened to blow up a federal building while brandishing a firearm.

McFarlane, 53, ran a moving company that appears to have operated in Woodburn and Tualatin. It's unclear what took him to California, though a background check by Patch revealed McFarlane — at the time of his death — had a bench warrant for his arrest out of Multnomah County for failing to remain in contact with his probation officer and missing appointments required as part of a harassment conviction he received in September 2017.

The events that led to McFarlane's death began just before 4 p.m. March 7, when Long Beach officers were dispatched to Long Beach Boulevard and Fourth Street following reports of "'a hysterical female' who stated that her husband was armed with a gun and was in a white Chevrolet van 'threatening to blow up the Federal Building.'"

McFarlane and his van were found in the 300-block of Ocean Boulevard, about half a block east of the federal building, police said. When officers made contact with McFarlane, he reportedly stepped out of the van armed with a handgun.

"He stood outside the vehicle, but remained near the van's open door," police said. "Officers started talking to the subject and directed him to put down the handgun, but he refused to comply with their orders and told them he had explosives in the van."

Employees at the nearby Civic Center and City Hall were evacuated for safety, as were nearby construction workers and folks walking in the area.

Two hours of negotiations did not convince McFarlane to drop his weapon, police said.

"Based on the suspect's statement that he had explosives in the van, his continued refusal to drop his gun, and the easy access to the inside of the van, a tactical plan was put into place," police said.

Using rubber bullets and gas, a SWAT team attempted to subdue McFarlane, yet he continued to resist — even after they let a K9 loose on him.

When McFarlane raised his weapon and pointed it at SWAT officers, gunfire rang out and McFarlane fell, police said. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

Police said it's unclear what motives, if any, he had for his afternoon outrage.

No explosives were found in the van or at two locations and other vehicles police linked to McFarlane.

Following an April 2017 arrest in Multnomah County, for which McFarlane was charged with assault — which was later changed to harassment — McFarlane told a recognizance officer, "They say I have mental health issues," though he did not elaborate further with any specifics. He did not appear to be on any medications at that time, either.

No other people were injured in this incident.

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