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DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

Chief Sizer says case will be referred to police bureau’s Internal Affairs Division

The Portland Tribune, May 6, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (7 Reader comments)

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Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Wednesday that he would not bring criminal charges against a Portland police officer involved in the 2006 death of James Chasse Jr.

The decision follows a six-month investigation into statements made by Officer Christopher Humphreys at the time Chasse died in police custody. The investigation included reviewing audio and video from the Multnomah County Detention Center shortly after Chasse was booked on an allegation that he urinated in public.

Police Chief Rosie Sizer said the case would be turned over to the police bureau’s Internal Affairs Division for review.

Chasse died Sept. 17, 2006, after he was either fell hard or was tackled by police during a chase after officers tried to subdue him outside a Pearl District restaurant. A witness told police that Chasse had urinated in public in view of diners at the Bluehour restaurant.

During the arrest, the 42-year-old, 145-pound Chasse suffered at least 26 broken bones in his rib cage and a punctured left lung, according to a medical examiner’s autopsy. The autopsy concluded he died of “blunt force trauma.”

At the detention center, nurses refused to accept Chasse because of the extent of his injuries. The officers then took him to the hospital, where he died at 7:04 p.m.

Officer Humphreys told investigators that he had pushed Chasse to the ground during the arrest. On a video from the jail made public in October, Humphreys could be heard telling other deputies that “we tackled” Chasse and that he “fell hard.”

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Reader comments

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

That's because it was an accident. Wow, big news story.

"Not impresses"

(email verified)

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 05:22 PM

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

Dear Chief: All the more reason your rank and file officers need to be aware where according to the AM paper 400 criminally insane people will be placed in your area soon. (Chasse was mentally ill....he was not a PSRB patient..big difference)

I'm 100 percent sure as I have polled my neighborhood officers and others where these dangerous people will reside, they don't know, nor even what a PSRB group home is...DO YOU?

SB911 is currently moving in Salem, you need to contact Sheriff Rob Gordon, in Hillsboro, unlike local government here..he has made local residents there safer by notification to them and his officers..SUPPORT HIM ..and your good officers, and their families..and Portland families..they (400 PSRB CRIMINALLY INSANE PATIENTS) will be your "new neighbors."

Please respond. Jack Peek

" Jack Peek"

(email verified)

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 10:04 PM

A sure way to exonerate the officers

Just refer it back to the police internal affairs!

"yeah right"

(email verified)

Wed, May 06, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

"The officers then took him to the hospital, where he died at 7:04 p.m."

This is untrue, also. Chasse died in the backseat of a police car on the way to the hospital. The officers driving him, the same ones who beat him to death, were headed to the hospital without lights or siren.

This city is a sad joke where justice for the criminal acts of police officers is concerned.

"reader"

(email verified)

Thu, May 07, 2009 at 08:32 AM

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

No great surprise here. When has the DA ever filed charges in a police involved death?

"reader"

(email verified)

Thu, May 07, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

The bottom line for James Chasse and everyone else: DON'T RUN FROM THE POLICE.

"Insider"

(email verified)

Thu, May 07, 2009 at 04:47 PM

Re: DA won’t bring charges in Chasse death

Note to self.

Refrain from urinating in public, or at least in front of people who can report me. Seems pretty simple. Pass the pruno (an alcoholic drink made from bread, sugar and fruit).