UPDATE 5/7/19 12:01 p.m.
The male subject in this incident is being identified as Jordan Lee Poitra, 33 years old. Mr. Poitra’s permanent residence is still being established, but he did have ties to the Grand Forks community.
Several additional details have been learned through the incident investigations, and so the overall incident description will be updated as follows.
On Monday, May 6 at approximately 5:05 p.m., Grand Forks Police Department officers were dispatched to the Dollar Tree parking lot, for a male subject with an unknown problem. The subject was located, and officers began conversing with him. He was identified as Jordan Lee Poitra. During the course of that conversation, officers were alerted to the fact that Mr. Poitra had a Failure to Appear warrant for his arrest, out of Cass County, ND. When attempting to place him under arrest for the warrant, the male began actively fighting with officers. Over the course of the fight, Mr. Poitra attempted to disarm at least one of the officers. To correct an earlier report, the officer’s holster was not broken, but had been manipulated in Mr. Poitra’s attempt to withdraw the officer’s sidearm. At least one officer deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue Mr. Poitra, but was unsuccessful. The male disengaged from officers, and fled the scene in the patrol vehicle. The involved officers were later treated and released from Altru for minor injuries sustained during the course of this incident.
Mr. Poitra fled the scene to the west on 17th Avenue South at a very high rate of speed. He drove through the termination of 17th Avenue South, continuing through the fence protecting Interstate 29, and turned north on the Interstate. Mr. Poitra traveled a short distance on the Interstate before angling to the west, crossing the median northbound traveling to the north-northwest, and striking a southbound semi tractor-trailer in nearly a head-on collision. The collision left the semi disabled and partially off the roadway, the patrol vehicle destroyed, and Mr. Poitra deceased. There was no active pursuit at any point during this incident.
The Grand Forks Police Department was assisted on this incident by the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the University of North Dakota Police Department, the Grand Forks Fire Department, Altru Ambulance, the GFPD Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team, and the GFSO Unmanned Aerial Systems team, and we are appreciative of their assistance.
This investigation is active and ongoing, and the Grand Forks Police Department would ask anyone who may have any information regarding this incident to contact investigators through any of the methods provided below:
Call: 701-787-8000
Online: Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook or website
App: Submit a tip via the Tip411 app
ORIGINAL STORY
On Monday, May 6 at approximately 5:05 p.m., Grand Forks Police Department officers responded to check the welfare of a male subject. The subject was located at a south-end business, and officers began conversing with him. During the course of that conversation, officers were alerted to the fact that the male had a warrant for his arrest. When attempting to place him under arrest for the warrant, the male began actively fighting with officers. The fight was serious to the extent an officer’s holster was broken while the male was attempting to disarm him. The male disengaged from officers and fled the scene in the patrol vehicle.
While officers were attempting to locate the fleeing suspect, indications are that he accessed Interstate 29, and began traveling northbound. He apparently turned to the west, crossed the median, driving in the path of a southbound tractor-trailer. The collision left the semi disabled and partially off the roadway, the patrol vehicle totaled, and the suspect deceased. The suspect’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The public has been asked to remain clear of Interstate 29 between 32nd Ave S and DeMers Ave this evening, to allow the scene to be processed. Any motorists who must travel through this section, both north-and south-bound should expect to encounter significant delays. Additionally, motorists should proceed cautiously, as numerous emergency personnel are on foot in the area.
The Grand Forks Police Department was assisted on this incident by numerous local and regional agencies, and we are appreciative of their assistance.
This investigation is active and ongoing, and the Grand Forks Police Department would ask anyone who may have any information regarding this incident to contact investigators through any of the methods provided below:
Phone: 701-787-8000
E-mail: investigate@grandforksgov.com
Text: Text the word “GFPD” and the tip to 847411 (“TIP411”)
