Drug squabble leads to park stabbing

Discover why the restrooms at Ed Benedict Park were closed, and surrounded by police tape, on a recent summer day …

Officials say a man was stabbed in the bathroom of this outer East Portland park, located within disputed neighborhood boundaries of both the Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Screams, and a woman running from the permanent restrooms at Ed Benedict Park, led bystanders to call the 9-1-1 center on Thursday morning, July 26.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were dispatched to a “stabbing” at the concrete block restrooms building just east of SE 102nd Avenue, and south of Powell Boulevard, at 9:49 a.m.

Neighbors say transients frequent the park, and often fight amongst themselves.

“There are a lot of homeless ‘campers’ in the parking lot [east of the restroom building], and many of them cause a lot of trouble – so much so, we’re afraid to go walking here, anytime other than high noon,” said a neighbor who didn’t want to give us a name – while observing the officers, and the crime scene tape.

Hours after the incident, police were still standing guard, awaiting a Portland Parks & Recreation clean-up crew to arrive and sanitize the affected bathroom.

These restrooms remain closed until the investigation is complete; and, the particular restroom involved is disinfected.

“Initial information indicates a male victim and female suspect were using meth together in a homeless camp,” said PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson. “According to the report, the woman got upset, stabbed him, and left the area.

This bicycle, officers say, will soon be logged in as evidence in this case.

“The stabbing victim was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment for what are reportedly serious, but not life-threatening injuries,” Simpson said.

© 2018 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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