On the first day of classes at Mt. Hood Community College, the lazy afternoon was interrupted with shots that marked the beginning of a tense eight-hour standoff in the middle of Tee-Off Estates. As the first shot rang out, many MHCC students were oblivious to the impending danger nearby. “This man is crazy, and he’s right behind my apartment,” said Satara Dorr, one of the tenants of the condominiums on the west side of Kane, just south of campus.

At approximately 11 a.m., across the street from the college, the sheriff’s office was sent to serve an eviction notice to 45-year-old Tom Lovelace. “A shot was heard, and the [sheriff’s deputy] immediately pulled back and called for back-up,” according to Gresham police Sgt. Jim Penninger.

The officers backed out and called for reinforcements as Lovelace proceeded to barricade himself in his condo at 1441 N.E. Paropa Court. At this time, Gresham-Multnomah County Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) took over the scene. Also on scene were Multnomah County Sheriff ‘s deputies, Gresham Police Department officers and Portland Emergency Disposal Unit (EDU).

“EDU was there on standby in case they had to deploy any explosives,” Multnomah County Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Mike Shults said. All elements and special teams used were standard procedure, he said.

“The SWAT team, and Bomb squad was called in to assess the situation, and take precautionary steps, while evacuation proceedings were started by the Gresham Police Department,” Penninger said.

“When you have a man barricade himself with a gun, it becomes a dangerous situation that requires experts,” Shults said.

According to police Sgt. Jeff Hansen, team leader for the Multi-Jurisdictional Tactical Unit, the SWAT response included a Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), SWAT, crisis negotiation team and EDU.

According to Shults, the safety of local residents was immediately taken into consideration.
“When deputies and Gresham officers first arrived, they evacuated the immediate area,” Shults said. “Individuals not in the immediate area were asked to stay inside their homes.”

A TriMet bus was brought to the location to house the evacuated residents.

Alice Clay, who lived close to Lovelace, was evacuated in an armored car and told she could not return to her home for at least two and a half hours.

The SWAT team used surveillance robots, two explosions at 3:08 p.m. to cause a distraction, over 20 shots of teargas, tazers and beanbags, as well as a long grappling hook on a stick in attempts to get Lovelace out of his residence.

Some local neighbors felt that the response was above and beyond what was needed.
“Tom was harmless,” Axtel Lambright, a neighbor of Lovelace, said. “He did not understand.”

According to Lambright, Lovelace had paranoid habits.

“He had six locks outside his door and six locks inside,” Lambright said. “No one could go inside his place.”

Shults confirmed that 12 locks were on the door, 6 inside, and six out.

According to Lambright, the noise did not seem loud enough to be a gunshot.
“It was a little pop sound,” Lambright said. “I don’t think it was enough noise.”

At 7:30 p.m., Lovelace surrendered to authorities.

“The SWAT team used every possible tactical tool they had in order to bring about the best possible conclusion to this incident,” Shults said. “This is the kind of ending we hope for, where no one gets hurt or killed.”