A Portland firefighter was arrested Thursday on felony charges of possessing an illegal firearm, heroin and methamphetamine.
Retiring City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees Portland Fire and Rescue, said one of his last acts in office will be to ensure that David Nick Lloyd, 44, is placed on unpaid leave pending the adjudication of his case.
“We should not be paying somebody who has been arrested on felony gun and drug charges. That’s conduct unbecoming a firefighter,” Saltzman said.
Saltzman said he would push for unpaid leave regardless of what the city’s agreement with the firefighters' union — the Portland Firefighters Association — dictates.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers saw Lloyd and another man "engaged in suspicious activity" in a vehicle. During a traffic stop, the officers "discovered user amounts of methamphetamine and heroin, a short-barreled rifle and ammunition, and a loaded handgun."
David Nick Lloyd, left, and Jacob Lieberman.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Lloyd reportedly works in the operations division as a firefighter and earns between $5,000 and $6,000 a month.
Lloyd will be arraigned Friday on the drug and gun charges, and reviewed for release. His bail is set at $27,500.
In court filings, Lloyd indicated that he has participated in outpatient drug and alcohol treatment in the past and may be homeless.
“In the process of moving from my current housing. Most belongings are at U-HAUL,” he wrote. “Will be staying in the Portland area: unknown new address.”
In 2007, Lloyd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, DUII and assault.
Court records indicate his wife took out a restraining order against him at the time. They've since divorced.
Records list Jacob Lieberman as the other man arrested in Lloyd’s current case. Lieberman has a lengthy criminal record including felony cocaine and methamphetamine possession.
Lieberman was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle last month. He pleaded not guilty and a Multnomah County judge signed an order dismissing the information against him.