Portland Couple Faces Drug and Gun Charges After Police Use Stop Sticks to Foil Escape
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland couple was arrested and charged after officers from the North Precinct found them in possession of large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, $10,000 in cash, a semiautomatic pistol, several firearm magazines, and dozens of rounds of live ammunition.
Justin C. Holder (42) and Crystal Holder (35) were arrested separately and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Their arrest followed a report on Sunday, August 3, that alerted the police to investigate a suspicious-looking Jeep Cherokee without license plates.
The vehicle was parked in the 9600 block of Northeast Sunderland Avenue near the intersection of Northeast 33rd Drive in the Sunderland Neighborhood.
Police Used Stop Sticks to Prevent Them From Fleeing
Officers placed Stop Sticks around the tires to prevent the driver from fleeing. When the driver spotted the police, he attempted to steer the vehicle toward an officer and then fled the scene.
The police did not chase after the vehicle because the Stop Sticks had successfully deflated the tires.
Officers located the unoccupied vehicle on Northeast Faloma Road, near the intersection with Northeast Marine Drive, and requested backup, including the K-9 unit and a drone operator.
They set up a perimeter and soon located the passenger, Crystal H. Holder. Officers arrested the driver, Justin Holder, at Northeast Middlefield Road, west of the Northeast 6th Circle.
The PPB Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit responded and assisted the police officers in the investigation.
Justin Holder is charged with second-degree attempted assault, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, the unlawful possession of Schedule ll drugs, unlawful manufacture/delivery of Schedule II drugs, and multiple arrest warrants.
Crystal Holder is charged with unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, unlawful possession of Schedule l drugs, and unlawful manufacture/delivery of Schedule ll drugs.