Suspect Arrested for Three Random Assaults (Photo)

September 29, 2021 15:56

Portland Police have arrested a suspect believed to be involved in three random assaults.

On September 27, 2021, 43-year-old Dana Lamar Willis was arrested for Attempted Murder, Assault in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

On September 9, 2021, the victim was walking in the area of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Northeast Killingsworth Street when he was approached by a stranger. The stranger asked some questions, which the victim answered. For an unknown reason, the stranger stabbed the victim in his neck and ran off. The victim was able to call 911. Officers responded and rendered emergency medical aid until an ambulance arrived to transport him to a hospital. Officers searched the area, but were unable to find the suspect.

On September 25, 2021, a separate victim was walking in the area of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Northeast Jessup Street when he was approached by that same stranger (who was now known to be Willis). Willis mumbled words the victim could not understand, then Willis punched the man in the head, before running off. Later that day another stabbing occurred in the area of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Northeast Killingsworth Street. The description of the suspect in this second stabbing matched that of Willis. This second stabbing victim declined to participate with the investigation.

Detectives and officers continued to work these cases and on September 27, 2021, were searching for Willis when an alert community member familiar with the assaults called 911 to direct police to him. Willis was safely taken into custody, and a large folding knife was found in his possession. Willis remains in custody.

If anyone has information about these incidents, they're asked to contact Detective Calvin Goldring at calvin.goldring@portlandoregon.gov or Detective Shaun Sahli at shaun.sahli@portlandoregon.gov.

PHOTO: Folding Knife

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