An improvised explosive device blew out the window of a Beaverton police officer’s patrol car while he was responding to an emergency call around 2 a.m. Thursday, the Beaverton Police Department said.
The explosion occurred as the officer was driving on 158th Avenue in Beaverton with his police lights.
The officer suffered minor injuries, said Matt Henderson, spokesperson for the Beaverton Police Department. Henderson declined to identify the officer.
“Basically, his front passenger window just explodes and he feels a huge concussion inside the car,” Henderson said. He added that the officer was okay, but had to leave his shift early because of a headache from the blast.
Henderson estimated that the explosion caused several thousand dollars worth of damage to the police car. The officer was able to pull the car over without crashing.
Other officers arrived at the scene to investigate and quickly found the source of the explosion: an energy-drink can that had been packed with explosives. Detectives believe the officer was intentionally targeted, according to the police department.
“Somebody lit this thing and threw it at the officer’s car or rolled it at the officer’s car,” Henderson said. “At this point we’re treating it as a targeted incident.”
No suspects have been arrested or identified, he added.
Henderson said that Beaverton police don’t know if the can was filled with fireworks or another explosive. The remains of the can have been sent to a crime lab for further analysis.
Regardless of the can’s contents, Henderson said that whoever did it could face felony bomb charges if caught. Under Oregon law, possession of an improvised explosive device is a Class C felony.
The person responsible also could be charged with assault if there’s evidence of intent to hurt the officer.
Henderson said that modified explosives like the one used in the attack are extremely dangerous, and he has never seen one used against a Beaverton police officer before.
“I’ve been at the department for almost 17 years,” he said. “I don’t think a police officer’s vehicle has ever been targeted with an explosive device.”
— Tatum Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.