Suspect accused of attempting to murder a police officer indicted

PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced that 24-year-old David Dahlen III – who is accused of attempting to murder a police officer – has been indicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Dahlen is charged with one count of attempted murder in the first degree, one count of assault in the first degree, one count of assaulting a public safety officer, one count of failure to perform the duties of a driver, one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and one count of escape in the second degree.

On December 29, 2020, a Multnomah County judge authorized a warrant for Dahlen’s arrest after he allegedly attempted to murder Portland Police Officer Jennifer Pierce on December 24, 2020 in the 3900 Block of Southeast Powell Boulevard. Additional information on this incident has been previously released by the Portland Police Bureau.

On January 2, 2021, Portland Police located and arrested Dahlen in the area of Southeast 101st Avenue and Southeast Insley Street after a short foot pursuit. After being transported to the Portland Police Bureau’s Detective Division, Dahlen escaped custody.

On January 8, 2021, the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Dahlen.

Dahlen appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court on January 20, 2021 and was arraigned on the indictment. He remains in custody.

No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time.

A charging document is only an accusation of a crime. Dahlen is innocent unless and until proven guilty.