Portland Police have arrested a suspect wanted in connection with two violent assaults.
On Monday, March 13, 2023 at 8:36a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to Southwest 5th Avenue and Southwest Salmon Street on a report of an assault. When officers arrived they found an injured victim, an adult male, who reported he was attacked by a stranger without warning. The investigation revealed the suspect hit the victim with a golf club, poured hot coffee on him, and stomped on his head while he was down. The suspect robbed the victim of his backpack before fleeing. The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance for non-life threatening injuries. He has since been treated and released.
On March 14, 2023 at 2:44a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a report of an assault at West Burnside Street and Southwest 5th Avenue. Officers and EMS arrived and found a victim, an adult male, unconscious on the sidewalk. He was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Officers investigated and determined that the victim had been assaulted and robbed. The suspect is believed to be the same as the previous case.
Police were investigating another case when they identified 34-year-old Harold Griffin the third as the suspect and took him into custody. He's charged with robbery, assault, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Detectives are also investigating the possibility that the suspect may be connected to other reported assaults.