Man killed in shootout with police had decades-long criminal record

The man who died after a shootout with police in Southeast Portland this week was facing criminal charges at the time of his death, records show.

Portland police were investigating a suspected robbery Monday morning when they executed a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Southeast 124th Avenue. According to neighbors, several people came out of the house and police said they arrested two people at the scene.

A man – 45-year-old Richard Perez – shot at police, who fired back. The officers’ shots hit Perez and he died, police said. All four officers involved were placed on regular leave.

Court records show Perez had a criminal history dating back to age 18, when he pleaded guilty to driving with a revoked license. He was subsequently convicted or found guilty of theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a police officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm, burglary and delivery of methamphetamine.

At the time of his death, Perez was facing 13 state charges, six of them for reckless endangerment, according to court records. He also faced four federal charges, including three related to drug trafficking.

— Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and business reporter with a focus on crime. Reach him at 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.

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