Tag: okjo

The suspect in the shoving incident has been arrested.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A MAX train operator is being hailed as a hero after he successfully stopped his train during an emergency, preventing a man who had been shoved onto the tracks from getting hit. 

The man who allegedly pushed the victim is now facing murder charges. 

KOIN 6 News spoke with the train operator. He said there have been many times when people have walked onto the tracks but this is the first time something like this has ever happened to him.

“I saw a gentleman running and I had a single train. I just assumed he was running towards the front of the platform to get to where the single train was going to be,” MAX Operator Dave Chastain said. “All of a sudden, he ran towards the tracks and shoved the guy right into the tracks in front of me.”

Chastain used quick thinking when he saw the victim get pushed onto the tracks at Providence Park MAX station. 

“I just threw on the emergency brakes and stopped as quick as I could. Fortunately, I was able to stop in time before making any contact with him,” he said. “It kind of hit me what all that happened. Yeah, I’m glad it had a good outcome.”

The incident happened near Southwest 17th Avenue and Southwest Yamhill Street just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Chastain said he’s only been on the job for nearly a year and said his training helped him in this situation.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said the victim luckily only suffered minor injuries.

“I didn’t see any visible marks or anything on him,” Chastain said. “He was more shaken up more than anything and kind of shocked and surprised on what had happened, kind of as much as I was.”

The sheriff’s office said the suspect ran away right after the push but was quickly identified.

“Our transit police utilizing surveillance cameras to identify this individual who actually went to commit more crimes,” said TriMet Executive Director of Safety and Security Andrew Wilson.

Within 20 minutes, multiple reports of robberies nearby matched the description of the suspect on the platform. Transit police and Portland police arrested 31-year-old Michael Moreland.

Investigators said Moreland did not know the victim and it’s unclear why he was targeted. Moreland pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.

Chastain was honored with a special recognition and given a safety pin.

“It’s awesome and I’m appreciative,” he said.

Moreland is facing several charges including attempted murder, attempted assault and robbery. He will be back in court on Thursday.

Chastain will return back to work on Sunday.

Police have been investigating ever since reports first came in six weeks ago.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) —  Someone has reportedly been throwing cans of food off of a high-rise apartment building in downtown Portland for weeks.

The cans have been crashing onto the ground, damaging cars and putting people’s safety at risk. People who walk and work in the area have now been voicing their concerns. 

KOIN 6 News spoke with someone who had their property damaged. For workers at Higgins Restaurant, it became a reality to witness cans thrown from a building whizzing by them, barely missing, and sometimes hitting their car. Employees said they found nearly 10 cans. 

Lauren Ellis, a bartender at Higgins, told KOIN 6 it’s hard to pinpoint what unit from Ladd Tower the cans are coming from, making it hard to hold anybody responsible. 

Last month, she said a coworker at the restaurant warned her someone was throwing canned goods from the high-rise apartment building across the street from Higgins. Then one night, she noticed cans near her car after her shift. It wasn’t until the next morning that she saw the car roof had been dented. 

“I kind of looked at my car at first to see there wasn’t any initial damage and didn’t think to look at the top of my car,” Ellis said. “I’m lucky it didn’t hit the windshield or I wasn’t in the vehicle when the can hit my car.”

Nearly six weeks ago, the Portland Police Bureau received the first report of a car being damaged by canned goods. They said the person responsible is reportedly occupying an upper-level apartment in Ladd Tower, making it incredibly difficult to pinpoint the exact unit.

Central Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team is now investigating.

“There’s been close calls with some of our employees and our employees have witnessed close calls with other pedestrians — almost seems like it’s intentionally aimed for people walking by,” said Dylan Shmitt, a general manager at Higgins.

The cans appear to be coming from the north side of Ladd Tower, along Southwest Jefferson Street between Park Avenue and Broadway.

The Holland Partner Group, which manages the Ladd Tower, released a statement, saying in part:

“[A]t this point, our security team has not found any evidence of what is being described as coming from our building; however, we have urged them to contact police and our front office if they see something like this taking place from our property.”

People who work at Higgins said they are on high alert.

“It’s been happening in the afternoons when people are arriving for our evening shifts and so it’s a danger to actual commuters and civilians out here,” Shmitt said. “The end of last week when our most recent encounter was one of our chefs almost got hit by it and exploded right next to him.”

Portland police said to contact them if you have any information.

PSU President Ann Cudd said the Millar library would be closed until fall 2024.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After protesters occupied it for days, the Portland State University library is expected to remain closed until the fall.

PSU President Ann Cudd said the Branford Price Millar Library is “not suitable for occupation.”

Crews are now hard at work cleaning up after four days of protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Meanwhile, KOIN 6 News went on campus Friday night to catch up with students as they returned to class. Many students told us they didn’t know what ruining the library had truly accomplished and hoped the cleanup would go quickly. 

The library remains cordoned off with fencing and plywood boards to prevent entry as Portland police continue monitoring the area. Meanwhile, crews work to clean up the graffiti and damage left by the pro-Palestinian protests. 

“The reason that this happened really matters to me and families are destroyed,” said Willa Herdon-Schepper, a PSU freshman. “Historically the only way change will happen is through disruption.”

On Thursday night, protesters re-entered the library after it was previously cleared out by police who broke through demonstrator’s barricades earlier that same morning. Officers returned shortly thereafter and evicted them a second time. 

Some PSU students told KOIN 6 News that they supported students voicing their opinions about important causes, they opposed the vandalism and destruction. 

“I wish when a protest is happening people didn’t feel licensed to cause damage to something that doesn’t have anything to do with what is being protested,” said Christina Osborn, a PSU senior. “I feel personally violated because damage was done to this place that I use very frequently as a resource.”

Osborn added she was sad to realize she wouldn’t be able to use the library for the rest of her time as a student at PSU. 

Many students said they were ready for things to go back to normal. 

“This last week all of campus was closed. I did feel frustrated about that because not only was the library was hard to access,” Herdon-Schepper said. “Everything was impossible to access, that was tricky. There were homework assignments due that were hard to get done”

Marc Rose, another PSU student, echoed the sentiment of finding it difficult to get his studies done amid the commotion. 

“There are books that are on reserve for students — how are we going to get those? There are all the students who work there now — lost a job — and there’s students who go there to study,” Rose said.

The vandalism within the library was well-document by KOIN 6 News and law enforcement. It included broken glass, smashed computers and graffiti on walls and even on books. It is expected to re-open in fall 2024 at the earliest.

Friends and family gathered on Cristina Ase’s 62nd birthday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Friends and family of Cristina Ase, a Vancouver woman who has been missing since last month, gathered at a candlelight vigil at Glenwood Park on Friday night to remember her on her birthday. 

“We love her, we miss her. And wherever she is, we are going to continue fighting to bring her home,” said Sandy Hayden, one of Ase’s coworkers. 

The Vancouver Police Department said Ase left her home on the morning of March 26 but never showed up for work in West Linn. The last ping from her phone placed its location in Southeast Portland.

“Kind of gave me a chill coming to this area knowing this was the last place her phone was signaled,” said Jennifer Williams, another one of Ase’s coworkers. “It just feels dark being here.”

Police have characterized Ase’s disappearance as “suspicious.” But despite tremendous efforts by loved ones, many have found it challenging to accept the lack of clues — or closure — about her whereabouts. 

“It’s really hard not to have any answers, not understanding what happened to her. Hoping there’s some sort of lead to find out where she is,” Williams said. 

The search effort has included people putting up missing person flyers around the park, the greater Portland and Vancouver areas and a billboard. The sentiment from many: they want to bring her home. 

Almost three weeks ago, warrants show investigators found a roll of duct tape and several hairs in Ase’s gray 2013 Toyota RAV4. The car was found near her home in Vancouver after her disappearance. 

“She was just ripped from us, from her life from everything. It’s important we do what we can for her,” said Matt Shempert, who worked with Ase.

The gathering culminated with community members singing Happy Birthday to Ase with a birthday cake and releasing balloons on her 62nd birthday. 

Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for any information that leads to an arrest. Those who do have information are asked to contact the Vancouver Police Department.

More than 200 jobs may be on the chopping block.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Teachers at Portland Public Schools made their voices heard Wednesday night amid a school board meeting discussing $30 million budget cuts which could result in hundreds of jobs being cut. 

Many educators said they were upset, saying the proposed cuts may negatively impact students. 

“No cuts, no fear. Libraries are needed here,” was the chant from educators heard ringing through the air.

PPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Sandy Husk laid out the budget for the upcoming school year, saying the spending plan so far totals more than $2 billion to support Oregon’s largest school district of 45,000 students. However, she said $30 million is getting slashed from the budget, laying the blame on lack of state funding. 

“Our state dollars continue to fall short of costs it takes to operate our schools,” Husk said. “In addition to the federal pandemic aid ending we also have some special revenues from other federal sources that are declining.”

Husk said declining student enrollment is also making a significant impact in the district, with PPS seeing a nearly 10% drop in enrollment since 2020.

“We would be facing reductions even if we had adequate state dollars,” Husk said.

The district said more than 200 positions will be eliminated. Some of the jobs looking to be cut include library assistants and physical education specialists. 

Catherine Tucker, a teacher librarian, said she thinks PPS needs to “rethink how they’re doing these cuts, rethink their priorities.”

“We have been fighting so hard to get everything that our students need and they just keep providing us with less and less. I feel like next year in my building we’re going to have a skeleton staff,” Tucker said.

Adam Hamler, an adaptive P.E. specialist, said allowing such cuts constitutes a “disservice to the community.”

“Our gen ed kids, our kids with special needs. We have a lot of kids that can’t even go into a gym because of the sensory needs they have. So we do modified or adapted lessons outside of the gym or in a different space,” Hamler said.

These budget cuts come months after the PPS board and teachers union approved a contract last November following a month-long strike.

Board members brought their concerns to the table on who would be most impacted by budget cuts.

“We are balancing our budget on the backs of the Black and brown staff,” said PPS Vice Chair Herman Greene. “We are balancing our budget on those who are most marginalized and we are balancing our budgets on those with the most needs. That may not be the case but again I want to see the data that would tell me I’m wrong.”

“There are legitimate concerns parents have when there’s a significant change — to a child that has vulnerabilities,” said PPS Board Member Julia Brim-Edwards.

There will be opportunities to give public testimony next month. After that, the board will vote to adopt a final budget in June. 

Riders were aware of the Friday night stabbing on a MAX train

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Thousands of fans, both locals and tourists, took public transportation to the Moda Center Saturday one day after a stabbing on a MAX train left one man dead and another held for murder.

But that incident does not seem to deter the TriMet riders who spoke with KOIN 6 News.

Some, such as a woman who witnessed the arrest of Shondel Larkin in the moments after the stabbing Friday night, said she has seen a spike in crime over the last few years in the city. Others, who take the train several times a week for work, said it’s not unusual for incidents to happen on the transit.

“That’s happened before,” said Jennifer Keyser of Northwest Portland. “We’ve seen that, like the Hollywood station (where Jeremy Christian killed 2 people and critically wounded a third in 2017.) There’s a huge one. So there’s a lot going on and I’ve seen more security.”

More than 1 million riders used TriMet in February.

One of them, Nina Fortino, said TriMet is “the best part about living downtown. I mean, it’s just the convenience of having public transportation.”

She’s not overly concerned about Friday’s fatal stabbing.

“I’m not gonna just end up staying in my house all the time out of fear. I feel very safe. I sit in the front car close to the operator. no problem. I’ve never had a problem,” Fortino told KOIN 6 News.

Andrew Strohbeen, visiting from Seattle, heard about the stabbing but wasn’t worried.

“We’re taking the MAX back downtown to go to our hotel right now. It’s a little worrisome but it doesn’t happen too often,” Strohbeen said. “So you’re gonna put that behind us and just jump on the train.”

Bruce Palmer felt the same way.

“We felt very comfortable getting on the train at Sunset Transit Center. And there was a MAX security guy actually on the train,” Palmer said. “Felt very comfortable and there was no problem.”

Palmer said he stays observant. “Keep an eye on my surroundings. I don’t see a problem.”

Fortino’s friend said they don’t go out late at night. “I think (the MAX) stops about 11:30, midnight. So, I mean, the later gets more chances of something bad happening.”

But Nina Fortino is undeterred.

“It’s not going to stop me from taking the train. I just am not going to stop.”

Gun violence has doubled in Salem in the last 5 years.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The City of Salem is addressing an increase in shootings with the first meeting for the Community Violence Reduction Initiative.

“I live by McKay Park. There was a shooting the other day by a 15-year-old kid with a gun. Its getting irritating,’ said Micheal Pfenning, who lives in northeast Salem.

The gathering was the first of many meetings Salem will be holding, with officials hoping the community will take part in finding solutions. 

“The level of violence in our community affects all of us,” Salem Police Department Chief Trevor Womack said. 

Oregon’s capitol has seen a rise in violent crime over the past ten years. Violence from guns, specifically, has doubled in the last five years in Salem, according to a recent report.

The city’s Community Violence Reduction Initiative is working on a strategy. That’s why the Salem Police Department is adding a position to work specifically on this plan.

“There’s no time to waste. These are life or death situations for our community members,” Womack said.

Salem police also brought in an outside consultant to put together a plan with five principles.

“Focus on fewer shootings, follow the data, measure progress, intervention and prevention, collaboration with community and police,” said Ben McBride of the Empower Initiative.

Shootings were concentrated within about five square miles in the northeast part of the city. Victims and suspects are primarily between the ages of 18 to 34.

“Their voice matters, especially those affected by the violence [who] aren’t experienced the same way as other community in Salem,” Womack said. “Some experiencing up close and personal, changing trajectories of lives.”

There have been two deadly shootings so far this year. Mayor Chris Hoy wants the community to be a part of the solution.

“The city can’t do this on our own. There’s no way. We don’t have the capacity,” Hoy said. “We don’t have the capacity right now for basic services.”

The city plans to hold three more community conversation meetings in the upcoming months with hopes of developing a community strategy to deal with violent crime and gun violence.

Another community meeting to curb gun violence will happen in Salem in March

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A town hall in Salem is bringing leaders and community members together to find ways to curb gun violence following a recent report showing shootings have doubled over the past five years.

The main message coming out of that meeting was “we are all in this together.” 

With the Salem community coming together to find solutions to the epidemic, the police chief said it starts with having a conversation.

“Put yourself in the shoes of parents of a 15-year-old recently found shot to death in a pick-up truck,” said Chief Trevor Womack, of the Salem Police Department. ”We need to focus on our limited resources in a way that achieve big results and there’s no time to waste. These are literally life and death situations in our community.”

The Marion County Juvenile Department is also seeing concerning trends in younger kids when it comes to firearm-related offenses.

“It’s doubled almost tripled with an access to kids getting firearms in the community and being picked up on weapon-related charges,” said Troy Gregg, director of the Marion County Juvenile Department.

Nearly half of these cases have group and gang involvement. 

Researchers found that one five-mile-square area of Northeast Salem is where most of city’s shootings are happening. That’s causing fear in the community

“We hear gunshots at night and there are times we go around and make sure the doors are locked we have a flashlight nearby,” said resident John McDonnell. “Yes, it does cause anxiety.”

Salem-Keizer School District is also seeing an increase of young people involved in violence. That’s why they said it’s important to get everyone involved in making the city safer.

“We need find a way to educate all of the community and completely educate our kids on what the potential of gun violence can bring not only to them, their family and friends and other avenues,” said Kenny Ramirez, the security field coordinator for SKSD

Officials hope to make the most impact in the 18 to 34 age group, which is the demographic most affected in the crisis.

“The criminal justice partners have tools we can use but we want to make sure we use those in the right way,” Womack said. “We’re not talking about incarceration here. But trying to limit risks for those people, to come alongside community partners that can develop some prevention and intervention efforts for that age group.”

The Salem Police Department will hold another public meeting for the community with the aim of gun violence reduction on March 6 at the East Salem Community Center.