Portland Police use of force against Bo W Davis

Two officers were treated at the hospital for injuries suffered during an extended fight with a suspect who attempted to take an officer’s firearm from its holster, resulting in the officer applying a neck hold on the suspect. The use of force was effective at ending the struggle.
On Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:11 a.m., Portland Police officers assigned to Central Precinct were dispatched to a report of a “Threat with Weapon” call on Northeast 33rd Avenue over Interstate-84. They were told that a suspect had a metal pole and was hitting passing vehicles with it. Officers were told the suspect had walked away. They did an area check for him in the neighborhood and did not initially find him and no crime victims came forward to make a police report. About 20 minutes after officers cleared the scene, they gained information that the suspect may be in the area of Oregon Park, 700 Northeast 30th Avenue. Two officers responded and located the suspect. Almost immediately the suspect began fighting with the two officers. The officers alerted dispatch and other officers over the radio that they were in a fight and that the suspect was trying to get an officer’s firearm out of his holster. Numerous officers responded to assist, and at 10:34 a.m., officers stated that they were in custody with the suspect. Preliminary investigation indicated that during the struggle over the officer’s gun, an officer put the suspect in some kind of neck hold. The suspect did not lose consciousness and did not appear to suffer any significant injuries. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance as a precaution to get a medical evaluation.
Both officers involved were also transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. One officer had a hand injury and the other a head injury. Based on the reported level of force used by an officer in this incident, members of the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division's Homicide Detail responded to perform an investigation into the force used. Pursuant to Portland Police Bureau policy, “When a member knowingly uses physical force that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by applying pressure on the throat or neck of the other person. This also includes the carotid restraint hold or lateral vascular neck restraint. A neck hold shall be considered deadly (lethal) force.” There were no reports that any officer discharged a firearm during this incident.
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office was contacted and will continue to be consulted regarding this investigation. The officer involved in the neck hold is being placed on paid administrative leave pursuant to Police Bureau policy. As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is comprised of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.

Bo W. Davis, 43, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Attempted Murder, Robbery in the First Degree, Assaulting a Public Safety Officer, Menacing, and an outstanding warrant.

The two injured officers have been released from the hospital and are recovering at home.

The Portland Police Bureau is releasing initial body-worn camera footage related to a recent police use of deadly force incident following a fight with a suspect over an officer’s sidearm. While this is an ongoing investigation, we understand the public’s desire for information and are committed to transparency. This is just the first step in providing the facts, and more details will come as the investigation continues. The officers involved are Officer David Randall, a 2.9 year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, and Melissa Babasin, a 1.7 year veteran of PPB. Both are assigned to Central Precinct. Officer Babasin remains on administrative leave, which is standard protocol for a deadly use of force investigation. If anyone has information about this case and has not already spoken to police, please contact detectives at [email protected] or call 503-823-0479 and please reference case number 25-266458.