Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Michael Letendre
Age : 46
Gender : Male
Race : Native American
Date : 08/09/2024
Location : Safeway, 15570 Southwest Pacific Highway
City : Tigard
County : Washington
State : Oregon
Agency : Private security
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Unknown
Event : Died after neck restraint by private security for reported shoplifting
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/09/2024, at approximately 9:54 a.m., a loss-prevention worker employed by a private security company detained 46-year-old Michael Letendre at the Safeway store at 15570 Southwest Pacific Highway in Tigard after accusing him of shoplifting. The security worker forced Letendre onto the ground and restrained him while awaiting police.
Witnesses told investigators that the security worker held Letendre by the neck during the restraint. Letendre became unresponsive before Tigard and King City police officers arrived. The security worker began CPR, and another store employee subsequently took over. Responding officers continued CPR and used an automated external defibrillator until paramedics transported Letendre to a hospital.
Letendre remained hospitalized and died on 08/16/2024, seven days after the restraint. His family reported that he had initially been revived but remained in a coma following the incident. He was the primary financial provider for his household and was survived by his wife and children.
The security worker was employed by a third-party contractor rather than Safeway. Safeway reported that the contractor informed the company that the worker was no longer employed following the incident. The worker’s name and the private security company’s name were not publicly released.
Tigard Police detectives investigated the death in consultation with the Washington County Major Crimes Team. The investigation was referred to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for review of potential criminal charges and a possible grand-jury presentation. He had been the sole provider to his family with several children.
