Portland man, 22, charged with impersonating officer

PORTLAND, Ore. — A suspected forger has been charged with impersonating a police officer and attempting to murder a police officer.

Christopher R. Angel, 22, of Portland was arrested Thursday after he allegedly pointed a handgun at Officer Melissa Gray, who was trying to arrest him at the Cash Connection in southeast Portland. It's the same check-cashing store where an officer suffered a minor injury in a shooting this fall.

Thursday's incident happened when Angel was leaving the business.

According to the police, Angel flashed a stolen badge from the Clackamas County sheriff's office at Gray, trying to convince her that he was a deputy sheriff.

Gray, 31, who has been with the police bureau for five years, didn't believe Angel and tried to stop him.

During the ensuing fight, Angel pushed back, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it directly at Gray, who was less than 4 feet away, police said.

Gray, believing she was about to be shot, lunged at Angel. Other officers arrived shortly before their colleague pried the gun from Angel's hand, police said.

At some point during the fight, Angel successfully cocked the handgun, which discharged as officers were attempting to make it safe, police said.

Sgt. Brian Schmautz, the Portland police spokesman, said a badge was stolen from a Clackamas County deputy's car this summer. It is unknown whether it was the same badge that Angel reportedly showed.

Besides forgery, attempted murder and impersonating an officer, Angel was charged with resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He was arraigned yesterday and is lodged in the Justice Center Jail.