There are two versions of what happened when Portland Police Officer Chris Humphreys took James Chasse down to the ground after pursing him. Multiple witnesses say Chasse was brought down in a "bear hug" or "flying tackle," while Humphreys later said he had used the bureau's recommended "knockdown" technique.
Here's eyewitness Constance Doolan describing the scene as she was on the way to dinner:
Q. When you first saw the officers and Mr. Chasse, did you see any contact with them?A. Yes. I believe there was weight of one of the officers, I'm not sure who, on—on Mr. Chasse as they hit the pavement.
Q. Okay.
A. It was a bit of a pile.
Analysis of tapes recorded at the Multnomah County jail while the officers were trying to book the injured Chasse seem to depict Humphreys bragging about how he tackled Chasse, according to Chasse family attorney Tom Steenson. Later, speaking with investigators, Humphreys said he had used a "knockdown" technique. It's described in a Fall 2007 training division report:
While the officer is paralleling the suspect and gets close enough to touch the suspect, the officer should shove the suspect hard from the rear, in the middle of the back between the shoulders. This will cause the suspect's body to go ahead of his feet and fall forward onto the ground.