On Monday, September 10, 2018, at 2:55 p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the report of a burglary at an apartment in the 16000 block of Southeast Stark Street.
Officers arrived at the location and learned the suspect was inside the apartment with one of the residents. Officers heard the female resident call for help from inside the location. They immediately entered the residence and took the suspect into custody without incident and ensured the adult female victim was safe.
Based on preliminary information, investigators believe the suspect entered the apartment through an unlocked door. At the time the suspect entered the apartment there were two residents in the location. One of the residents of the apartment confronted the suspect and instructed him to leave, but he remained in the location. The resident fled the apartment and contacted a nearby community member, requesting to use a phone to contact 9-1-1, as well as help for the woman stuck inside the apartment with the suspect. While inside the apartment and prior to police arrival the suspect reportedly sexually assaulted the victim inside the apartment.
Members with the Portland Police Bureau Detective Division's Sex Crimes Unit responded to lead the investigation.
The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Damascus L. Menefee. Menefee was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree (two counts), Assault in the Second Degree, Strangulation (two counts), Rape in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Trespass in the First Degree, Interfering with Making a Report and a Parole Violation for a previous conviction of Robbery in the First Degree.