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Suspect in SE Portland hostage situation identified, faces multiple charges

Family told KGW the suspect was holding his elderly mother hostage with a semi-automatic rifle after a family dispute. No one was injured.

PORTLAND, Ore. — A man accused of holding his elderly mother hostage with a semi-automatic rifle for hours Monday before he was taken into custody was identified Wednesday by police.

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) identified the suspect as 58-year-old Billy Waits of Portland. He faces multiple charges, including first-degree kidnapping, coercion, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, three counts of menacing, fourth-degree assault and felon in possession of a firearm.

Just after noon Monday, officers responded to a call for a welfare check on someone in the area of Southeast 105th Avenue and Southeast Bush Street, just south of Powell Boulevard. Officers learned the suspect was holding his mother hostage with a semi-automatic rifle. The PPB Special Emergency Reaction Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded. 

"We were able to talk with him on the phone for several hours and encourage him to surrender peacefully, which he did," said PPB Officer David Baer.

A relative, who identified the suspect and victim as her uncle and grandmother, told KGW the situation stemmed from a verbal dispute. 

"My uncle refused to open the door, and then at that point is when he showed the gun to my mom and told her not to call the police or she will pay for it," she said. 

During the police response, Southeast Bush Street was closed from 104th to 110th Avenue and Southeast 105th was closed from Southeast Francis Street to Southeast Bush Street. 

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