On Tuesday July 25, 2017, at 4:47 p.m., Central Precinct officers responded to Poet's Beach, located on the Willamette River at 2198 Southwest River Parkway, on the report of an assault by a male reported to be hitting a female with a stick.
Officers arrived in the area and contacted the victims and witnesses, learning that a man attacked a couple using an Asp-like metal baton then fled the area.
Officers learned that a 51-year-old male and 49-year-old female (husband and wife) were walking their dog along the beach and encountered a homeless couple nearby at a tent. The two couples exchanged pleasantries and initially there was not a problem. After nearly two hours, the homeless couple expressed anger that the victim's dog was off-leash, playing in the water. The male suspect went back into their tent and came out with a metal baton and attacked them then fled the area.
Officers spoke with the female at the tent but the male suspect was not located.
The female victim was transported by ambulance to a Portland hospital. The male victim drove to the hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not life-threatening.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s, 6'3" tall, 240 pounds, associated with a white female and a pit bull.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Tony Harris at 503-823-0400.