Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a grand jury indicted Tryston Allen Strode, 26, on 13 charges related to auto theft, reckless endangerment, and the unlawful possession of a stolen firearm. Strode is a person of interest being investigated by the Auto Theft Task Force due to his ongoing involvement in auto theft and having multiple felony warrants. Today’s indictment is the result of collaboration between the Portland Police Bureau East Neighborhood Response Team and Free2Move, in coordination with the DA’s Office.
Case Facts
On November 6, 2023, the Portland Police Bureau was contacted by a representative from the rideshare company Free2Move on reports that one of their fleet vehicles was not at the Gresham address indicated by its tracking device, that the vehicle was not rented using the appropriate steps, and that the tracking device in the app had been disabled. The representative later reported that the vehicle traveled into the area of PPB’s East Precinct, at which time officers on patrol located it at NE 102 and Halsey. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver eluded at high speeds, at one point struck a vehicle (no injuries resulted), and kept eluding. Officers tracked the vehicle to the parking garage at Portland Providence, where they located it empty, but found a firearm and blood inside. Hospital security flagged down the officers to let them know someone who was bleeding heavily had entered the hospital from the parking garage. That person was identified as Strode, who had accidentally shot himself in the leg. After treatment, Strode was arrested and taken into custody.
Indictment
Deputy District Attorney Cody Linderholm is the lead for the Task Force. Upon review of the evidence, DDA Linderholm presented the case to a Grand Jury, which returned a true bill of indictment today. Strode was indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
- One count of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
- One count of Felony Elude
- One count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- One count of Theft in the First Degree
- One count of Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public
- One count of Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver
- One count of Reckless Driving
- Four counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person
Strode is currently lodged at the Multnomah County Detention Center and is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on November 16.
A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Strode is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The DA’s Office thanks the PPB officers who assisted in this case, as well as the representatives from Free2Move who were instrumental in locating the suspect so he can be held to account.
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