Punching bus-riding pair arrested in Powellhurst-Gilbert

With all the attention focused on a recent ‘MAX beat-down’ incident – here’s the story about a similar incident of outrageous public transit violence. See how little time it took cops to solve this one …

A TriMet bus pulls up to a stop on SE 122^nd Avenue, about to take on another load of passengers.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
A shocking YouTube video showing four youths beating up a girl December 26, on MAX Light Rail north on the Green Line near the Foster Road station in the Lents Neighborhood, went viral on January 6. The widespread viewing helped Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers in the Transit Police and Youth Services Division to identify the suspects.

As has been widely reported, four youths have been arrested and charged – along with an adult, who was cited on two counts of Hindering Prosecution.

But, another outrageous case of mass-transit violence took place about 3:00 p.m. on January 12 –in the nearby Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood – and has received less attention.

Most TriMet bus rides are uneventful, agency officials say.

“Officers learned that the two suspects boarded the bus at SE 122nd Avenue and Market Street, and attempted to use invalid transfers,” revealed PPB Public Information Officer Peter Simpson. “The bus driver drove to the next stop and told the girls they needed to leave the bus, at which point the girls became verbally abusive to the driver.”

While that confrontation took place, the bus was parked at the curb. “A male passenger, 23-year-old Michael Cooke, asked the females to leave the bus so it could get moving,” Simpson continued. “Then, 19-year-old Markishia Duckett punched him in the face.”

Simpson continued, “A female passenger, 23-year-old Natasha Van Warmer, with a small child, asked the women to stop acting out in front of her child, and the women then attacked her. 36-year-old Tina Duckett held the victim by the hair while her daughter Markishia punched her.”

Officers arrived took the mother and daughter into custody.

“Markishia Duckett was charged with Assault in the Third Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Interfering with Public Transportation,” Simpson said.
“Tina Duckett was charged with Assault in the Third Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree, Interfering with Public Transportation, and Theft of Services in the Third Degree,” the Bureau spokesman added.

Police accuse both members of this smirking pugilistic pair – 36-year-old Tina Renee Duckett, and her daughter 19-year-old Markishia Welikea Duckett – with Class C Felony and Class A Misdemeanor charges. MCDC photos

Both were booked into the Multnomah County Jail with bail amounts totaling more than $7,500 each. However, MDCC records show both were released from custody that same day; Tina Duckett was “Released on Own Recognizance” – and both of the accused bail amounts indicate “Disposed: $0”.

“How crazy is that?” rhetorically asked Marcelle Greene as he waited for the bus to pull up at the stop on SE 122^nd Avenue and SE Division Street. “Why do they let violent people like that – I heard they punched-out a mother with a little kid – why do let them free to hurt other people?”

Sorry. We don’t have the answer.

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