Portland Police are actively searching for a suspect linked to an act of vandalism at a Northeast Portland business known for its Jewish cultural practices. According to KPTV, an unidentified man is accused of drawing a swastika on the doorframe of Pulse Wellness Cooperative around 1:30 a.m. on June 14. "That symbol is only about hate, and all I do is work to stop that," Rosanne Marmor, CEO of the co-op, told KPTV, expressing dismay and concern for her staff in the wake of the incident.
Not only has the co-op faced this horrendous symbol of hate, but it has also previously been the target of other acts of vandalism, including stolen items of deep cultural significance. Before walking away, the suspect left a hateful message on the property, as KATU reported, the business is known for integrating Jewish beliefs and traditions into its operations. A Pride flag that used to be displayed outside the establishment has been stolen, just like a Mezuzah, which contains verses from the Torah. This only adds to the belief that the crimes were intentional.
The release of multiple surveillance photos of the man, described as wearing a hoodie and blue jeans, is hoped to lead someone to recognize him. Portland Police are urging anyone with information about the suspect, whose demeaning act was captured by the business's cameras, to come forward. Referring to the crime as a calculated attack, an employee conveyed their belief to police there was nothing incidental about it. In a statement obtained by OregonLive, they mentioned a previous theft of a menorah from the front window in November, though it remains uncertain whether the incidents are related.
"It makes me not want to be front and center, actually. I don’t want to hide, but I don’t feel like I need to be right out front anymore, and that sucks." The case number for this incident is 25-160565, and the Portland Police are asking tipsters to contact [email protected] with relevant information.
