Cougar Burleigh's Death: Portland Police Decline to Release Records

"Detectives are continuing to look for evidence," but still don't consider his death a crime.

By BETH SLOVIC
Cougar Burleigh died after an incident on the Burnside Bridge on Oct. 12. Police initially declined to investigate the case as a crime but have since opened a homicide investigation.

Portland Police have so far declined to release records, including recordings of any 9-1-1 calls, concerning the incident on the Burnside Bridge that caused 38-year-old Cougar Burleigh's death on Oct. 14.

Burleigh, a Washington state employee visiting Portland from Olympia, had been barhopping when in the wee hours of Sunday, Oct. 12 he suffered a severe head wound.

That much is known.

Portland Police concluded Burleigh had been the victim of an accident, most likely a fall, after they found him wounded and intoxicated on the bridge without his pants, cellphone and wallet. Friends and family members—who didn't learn of the incident until almost 24 hours after the fact because Burleigh had no I.D.—have challenged that assumption, arguing that Burleigh was a crime victim. Police have said there were no witnesses to what happened.

Portland Police still believe no crime occurred, says Sgt. Pete Simpson, a spokesman. But detectives are continuing to look for evidence, he says, so the case remains open.

Police routinely decline to release reports and 9-1-1 tapes while investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Det. Erik Kammerer at 503-823-0762 or erik.kammerer@portlandoregon.gov.

WWeek 2015

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