Man Who Died In Portland Police Custody On Thanksgiving Identified

By Kimberley Freda (OPB)
Portland, Ore. Nov. 24, 2018 8:24 p.m.

The Portland Police Bureau has identified a man who was detained by officers on Thanksgiving and later died at an area hospital as 52-year-old Richard A. Barry.

Portland State University police responded to calls Thursday about a man yelling and running in the street near Southwest 6th Avenue and Southwest Mill Street. Police located Barry, who reportedly struggled with PSU officers. PPB Central Precinct officers were then called to the scene.

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Police said they restrained Barry because of his behavior and transported him by ambulance to a Portland hospital, where he died.

A Portland Streetcar crosses the intersection of Southwest 6th Avenue and Southwest Mill Street near where police apprehended Richard Barry, who later died in police custody on Nov. 22, 2018.

A Portland Streetcar crosses the intersection of Southwest 6th Avenue and Southwest Mill Street near where police apprehended Richard Barry, who later died in police custody on Nov. 22, 2018.

Bradley W. Parks / OPB

The Oregon state medical examiner’s office is conducting an autopsy on Barry to determine what caused his death.

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Six police officers, including four from Portland State University and two from the Portland Police Bureau, are on paid administrative leave pending further investigation. PPB is conducting an internal investigation into the incident. PSU says it is cooperating in that investigation.

The two Portland officers have been identified as Officer James DeAnda and Officer Jared Abby, both of whom have been on the force for less than two years.

Portland State University said David Troppe, a four-year veteran of the department and sworn officer, was involved, along with non-sworn officers Michael Anderson, Danae Murphy and Nichola Higbee. Sworn officers carry firearms, while non-sworn officers do not.

Barry is the second person to die in police response involving PSU officers this year.

One PSU officer was reportedly injured during the incident and then treated at a hospital and released.

Portland Police homicide detectives are investigating the incident, which will be reviewed by the Multnomah County district attorney.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story misstated Richard A. Barry's criminal history. OPB regrets the error.

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