In Portland, Oregon, a man armed with a knife was taken into custody on Monday after spending hours hiding in the rafters of a Target store post-encounter with a security guard, according to police reports.
The Portland Police Bureau stated that officers were called around 10:30 a.m. after receiving reports about a disturbance involving a weapon at the Target located on the 9800 block of Southeast Washington Street.
Witnesses initially told police that a suspect armed with a knife and a hatchet threatened a security guard before fleeing deeper into the store.
The security officer received medical treatment at the scene.
Police said the security officer was treated medically on scene. (FOX12 Oregon KPTV)
Authorities evacuated the store and began a search operation. They eventually located the man with a knife, who had positioned himself on a second-story shelving unit in the back area used for storing surplus inventory.
Portland Police negotiated with the suspect for nearly six hours before he surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. (FOX12 Oregon KPTV)
Officers negotiated with the suspect for several hours. He eventually dropped the knife and surrendered around 4 p.m., police said.
Target was evacuated after the knife-wielding man ran inside and hid. (FOX12 Oregon KPTV)
The man was identified as Michael Harper, 41, of Portland. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of assault, attempted assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
