Eric F. Oelkers (KOIN).
During a court session on Wednesday, an Oregon man accused of shooting two police officers shared a lot of opinions.
Eric F. Oelkers, 41, is charged with two counts each of attempted aggravated murder and attempted assault, along with unlawful use of a weapon, among other accusations. The incident occurred when Portland police officers responded to a report of a threat involving a weapon near Northeast 21st Avenue and Northeast Clackamas Street shortly before 8:30 p.m. on January 19, as noted in a Portland Police update.
Upon locating the suspect, officers instructed him to place his hands on his head. However, Oelkers allegedly defied their orders by pulling out a gun from a tote bag and opening fire, hitting two officers before fleeing. Authorities reported that Oelkers was seen with “a black backpack and a green shopping bag,” according to The Oregonian.
The officers did not fire back at Oelkers. Emergency responders swiftly transported the injured officers to the hospital, and they have since been discharged. Oelkers was apprehended on January 26 following an intensive weeklong search.
During his arraignment, Oelkers was notably vocal in front of the judge.
“This entire process is an unconstitutional and illegal insurrection,” he declared, as reported by The Oregonian. “Trump knows it. Trump’s coming.”
As he was leaving the courtroom he reportedly yelled “have fun in hell.”
The suspect also railed against undocumented immigrants and Antifa in a hearing last month after his arrest and asked if his public defender was AI.
“You’re all in active rebellion against the United States of America,” he declared.
Per The Oregonian, Oelkers also had a hate crime warrant out for his arrest after he allegedly vandalized a Black-owned business in Salem in 2021. Jonathan Jones, the owner of Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails, told Oregon Public Broadcasting that Oelkers was one of several vandals during that time. Jones said in an interview with the outlet Oelkers was among “a mob of people” from far-right groups that were protesting the 2020 election outside of his restaurant.
Oelkers remains at the Multnomah County Jail without bond.
