UPDATE: Assault and Robbery Suspect Arrested Within 2 Hours

March 31, 2023 15:54

  Follow @PortlandPolice

Within 2 hours of the press release in the assault/robbery cases downtown, the suspect was arrested.

On Friday, March 31, 2023 at 9:12a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Southwest 4th Avenue and Southwest Washington Street. When the officers arrived they determined that the disturbance did not involve any crimes. But officers recognized one of the involved persons as the suspect in the robbery/assault cases.

Harold P. Griffin III, 34, was arrested and transported to Major Crimes Unit detectives. He was interviewed and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Robbery in the First Degree (2 counts), Assault in the Second Degree, Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.

Almost immediately after the video and photos were released, PPB began receiving tips from the public on the suspect’s identity and possible sightings. Even as Central Precinct officers recognized him, someone reported a sighting of the suspect near the Southwest 4th Avenue and Southwest Washington Street incident. The Portland Police Bureau is grateful to the public for the tips that helped us quickly locate the suspect, and the news media for its helpful coverage.

The Portland Police Bureau is also aware of criticism of the employees of the coffee shop where this event took place and their actions during the event. Those employees did nothing wrong and acted appropriately in the face of a violent attack with a weapon. The employees should not have physically intervened as doing so could have resulted in their being injured and making the situation worse. The employees and other bystanders assisted the victim as well as responding officers as soon as the suspect left the scene. PPB is grateful to the bystanders, coffee stand employees, and management for their help in this case. The successful resolution of the case may not have been possible without their assistance.

###PPB###

***ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW***

A suspect in multiple assaults in downtown Portland is being sought by detectives, and they are asking for help from the public identifying and locating him.

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. (Case number 23-65725)

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 (case number 23-66496). The suspect is believed to be the same as the previous case.

The suspect is described a black male in his 20s, about 6 foot in height and 185lbs, wears eyeglasses and has a beard. Has been seen wearing a green Oregon Ducks baseball cap or a maroon cap, black zip-up hooded sweatshirt, green and black mechanic’s gloves, black backpack, black pants, and white shoes with black laces.

Detectives are also investigating the possibility that the suspect may be connected to other reported assaults.

He is known to be in downtown Portland but there is also reason to believe he may be in Milwaukie, Oregon.


If you know the identity of this suspect, please contact Detective Matt Brown matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov (503) 823-0859. If you see this suspect, do not approach and call 911. Please reference case number 23-65725.


###PPB###

*************

---

Email News Releases

Get News Releases from the PPB directly to your inbox.

Open Data Portal

Datasources from the Portland Police Bureau.

Social Media

Social Media and Podcasts from PPB.

---

Media Relations

Police Media Resources

Strategic Communications Unit
PPBPIO@police.portlandoregon.gov
Phone: 503-823-0830
1111 SW 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97204

---

Recent Headlines:

PPB News Archives


           

© OpenStreetMap contributors