Clackamas County Government: UPDATE: Statement From Sheriff Brandenburg On December 2021 Settlement

Press release from the Clackamas County Government:

12/15/2021

-- Sheriff Angela Brandenburg

Due to public interest, here is the information we can share at this time, pending litigation.

On Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, deputies responded to the mall, following a 911 call from mall security reporting a fight in progress involving a large group of juveniles following and physically assaulting a female juvenile. Deputies contacted the juveniles in the mall parking lot to investigate the alleged assault. All complied with deputies when asked to remain except one male juvenile, who refused to comply. He pulled away from deputies. They briefly placed him on the grass and then in handcuffs. He was questioned and released to his guardian.

On Aug. 6, the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from the juvenile's mother regarding this incident. Our Professional Standards Unit (PSU) immediately started an investigation. This involved an extensive review of reports, video and photographs from the scene, and interviews with witnesses and deputies.

PSU did not find that any deputy placed a knee on the juvenile's neck. We do not train deputies to restrict a person's airway or impede their ability to breathe. It was determined the involved deputies followed training and policy.

We also participated in community discussions arising from this incident. On Oct. 8, 2019, we engaged in a community listening session organized by Representative Janelle Bynum and facilitated by Clackamas County Resolution Services.

I will be asking Clackamas County Counsel to release police reports concerning this case.

For more information on our stance on racial violence, our recent joint statement is here:

https://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/2020-05-28-CCSOPR-JointLEStatement.html

This press release was produced by the Clackamas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.