Officers nab stabbing suspect only 90 minutes after the assault

Here’s why the Powellhurst-Gilbert Safeway store was closed on New Year’s Day. The policework following this crime is nothing short of amazing …

After a man is stabbed and robbed in this grocery store’s restroom, Portland Police Bureau start gathering information about the crime.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

As a refreshing change, New Year’s Day 2026 didn’t start off with a fatal shooting in East Portland. However, a man was stabbed in the Safeway store on SE 122nd Avenue, just south of Powell Boulevard, on January 1.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers who were dispatched to the stabbing at 10:05 a.m. were ushered into the store by employees – who then closed the store to customers.

New Year’s Day shoppers are turned away because the store is closed during the investigation.

“When they arrived, they found a victim, a 77-year-old male, with serious knife injuries,” PPB Public Information Officer Sergeant Kevin Allen later reported. “The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance; and, following medical evaluation, his injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.”

Officers learned that the victim had been robbed and stabbed while in the grocery store’s restroom, and the assailant exited the store and left the area.

Investigating the crime, officers gathered information about the suspect’s description and direction of travel.

Some of the dozen officers originally dispatched to this incident leave the store, and start looking for the suspect.

“Fantastic policework on this one,” Sergeant Allen commented to East Portland News. “Armed with witness information and assistance from TriMet Security, officers tracked the suspect about a half-mile north to the area of SE 119th Avenue and Division Street – and within about 90 minutes following the original call!”

PPB Major Crimes Unit detectives took over the investigation. Detectives determined that the suspect and victim were strangers, and did not know one another.

Suspect arrested blocks away from the crime scene
At 11:40 a.m., detectives and officers arrested 51-year-old Christopher Eugene Woods of Portland. Woods was subsequently booked Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 3:09 p.m. on initial Felony charges of Assault in the First Degree, and Robbery in the First Degree.

According to court records, Woods will also face Felony charges of Attempt to Elude by Vehicle and Burglary in the First Degree. Currently, Woods is being held in the MCDC – but, that could change when he arraigned on January 2. We’ll update this story as it continues.

While investigators are still in the store, officers have already tracked down the suspect and arrested him.

“The PPB is grateful for assistance of TriMet Security in helping track the suspect’s movements after the assault,” reported Sergeant Allen

The case is still under investigation. If you have information about this incident, e-mail it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: Major Crimes Unit, and refer to Case No. 26-352.

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