Officer Involved Shooting

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times

Residents of The Mt. Hood Villages were startled the Sunday evening of April 12th when sirens echoed throughout the community. A car chase involving 19 year old Nicholas Toler of Brightwood turned deadly in the parking lot of Barlow Trail Roadhouse.

According to The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Police Trooper Garrett Bailey attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle Toler was driving near Highway 26 and East Brightwood Loop. Bailey suspected Toler was driving under the influence and tried to begin an evaluation. Toler then fled in his vehicle where officers say his speed reached over 100 M.P.H. 

Toler eventually turned on to a dead-end street where Trooper Bailey tried to block him, ordering him out of his vehicle. Toler then indicated to the trooper that he was armed and then fled again. Requesting assistance from other law enforcement, Trooper Bailey continued to pursue Toler where the chase tragically ended in the parking lot of Barlow Trail Road House. As other responding officers arrived on the scene, Toler exited his vehicle, keeping his right hand behind his back, indicating to officers he was armed. Officers including Trooper Bailey and Clackamas County Deputy, Jordan Landstrom, then shot Toler. 

According to officers, Toler then returned to his vehicle, disregarding orders from the responding officers. Officers stated that when Toler stepped out of his car again he implied he was armed, pointing an object at the officers who then responded with more shots. Toler was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Upon investigation, officers determined that Toler was not, in fact, armed. According to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, because Toler’s statements and actions, indicating he had a firearm, “less than lethal force was not used.” The district attorney’s office also noted that Toler’s autopsy indicated he had been shot four or five times. Adhering to standard practice and protocol, this incident will be submitted to a Clackamas County Grand Jury for an evaluation of the use of deadly force. The investigation is being led by the Lake Oswego and West Linn Police Departments in coordination with the Clackamas County Major Crimes Team.

No further comments were available from said agencies and according to The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office future comments will not be made until the case is presented to a Clackamas County Grand Jury.