“Residents in Southeast Portland alarmed by threats, stalking, and macing incidents near Laurelhurst Park”
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PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Some Southeast Portland residents who live near Laurelhurst Park are sounding the alarm after several dog owners were threatened, followed, and maced by a man Portland Police are still searching for.
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“I was walking my dog before I went to work, so around 5:45, 6 a.m.,” Ana Cudeck said. “I always go to Laurelhurst with him. I have him off lease in the dog park. It was pretty pitch black out. A man approached us and basically said ‘if your dog comes near me I’m going to mace him’.”
Cudeck said she told the man they were minding their own business, but as she and her dog continued walking the man began to follow her while shining a flashlight at her.
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“He got too close for comfort,” Cudeck said. “I had a knife so I started to turn around with my knife and before I could even turn around, he put the flashlight in my face and maced me. I was instantly blinded. I’ve been maced before, I was in the police academy, I knew what I was experiencing. I got a contact out, grabbed my dog, and ran.”
Cudeck said she contacted police and filed a report.
“Every day I choose to go to Laurelhurst and walk my dog,” Cudeck said. “I feel very safe normally, but this has changed all of that. There was a lot of fear, especially when he was following me. I had absolutely no idea what his intentions were and I really thought I was going to have to prepare to fight. It was terrifying, absolutely terrifying. I was just walking my dog before work and instead I was maced.”
Cudeck said she went on Nextdoor to post about her experience, as well as warn others, when she saw someone posted a similar experience. She says she’s now heard from several who were threatened, followed, and one was maced as well allegedly by the same man.
“He’s in his 30s to 40s, he dresses in all black, walks by himself, baseball cap,” Cudeck said. “I would like people, especially if they’re walking their dogs in the morning to try and go with someone else, get a group, whatever you can do. Hopefully we can find this guy before he does it more.”
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Portland Parks & Recreation spokesperson said while Park Rangers are “not law enforcement officers; Rangers serve as goodwill ambassadors and provide a positive public safety presence in Portland parks and park facilities. Portland Park Rangers can be a resource to help solve park problems and ensure the protection of our natural and cultural resources. They work closely with other City and area partners, including police, to help stop problems and solve issues”. They did confirm they will be reaching out to PPB to see how staff may offer support to law enforcement regarding these incidents.
PPB confirms officers searched the park but have not located the suspect at this time.
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Southeast Portland residents near Laurelhurst Park are expressing concern and fear after a series of incidents involving a man who threatened, followed, and maced dog owners in the area. The suspect remains at large, and the Portland Police are actively searching for him.
One resident, Ana Cudeck, shared her harrowing experience. She recounted walking her dog in the park early in the morning when a man approached her and threatened to mace her dog. Despite assuring him that they were minding their own business, the man started following Cudeck and shining a flashlight at her. Feeling threatened, she turned around with a knife, but before she could react, the man maced her, leaving her instantly blinded. Cudeck managed to flee with her dog and promptly contacted the police to file a report.
Cudeck took to the community platform Nextdoor to share her story and warn others, where she discovered that several other individuals had encountered the same man. They too had been threatened, followed, and, in one case, maced. The suspect, described as a man in his 30s to 40s dressed in all black with a baseball cap, remains unidentified.
Cudeck urged fellow residents, especially those walking their dogs in the morning, to be cautious and try to walk in groups. She expressed her hope that the community could come together to apprehend the suspect and prevent further incidents.
Portland Parks & Recreation spokesperson emphasized that while Park Rangers are not law enforcement officers, they serve as goodwill ambassadors and provide a positive public safety presence in the parks. They are working closely with the police to address the situation and ensure the protection of park visitors.
The Portland Police Bureau confirmed that officers conducted a search of the park but have not yet located the suspect. Despite the ongoing investigation, the incidents have left residents feeling unsafe and concerned about their well-being while enjoying the park.
Laurelhurst Park is a popular recreational area in Portland, known for its scenic beauty and dog-friendly amenities. The recent incidents have shaken the community and highlighted the importance of vigilance and safety precautions, especially when walking alone or with pets.
Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity or encounters with the described individual to the police. The Portland Police Bureau is actively investigating the case and encourages anyone with relevant information to come forward..
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