A former TriMet road supervisor is now the subject of an arrest warrant after prosecutors say he chased down a car full of teenagers and hit one of them with a chemical spray at the Gresham Central Transit Center last summer. The warrant names 55-year-old Steven Christopher Hollinghurst and accuses him of multiple counts tied to the use of a chemical spray and harassment. TriMet confirms he is no longer with the agency, and as of Thursday, authorities had not announced an arrest.
Where the confrontation happened
Prosecutors say the confrontation unfolded on Aug. 17, 2025, at Gresham Central Transit Center, TriMet’s main hub in Gresham where MAX light rail connects with several bus lines. The layout of the transit center and its bus and MAX transfer points is detailed by TriMet.
What court filings and video show
Court documents and video from a nearby TriMet bus reportedly show Hollinghurst chasing a teenager, shining a flashlight into the teen’s face and then discharging a chemical spray, according to KGW. The filings say the video appears to show him walking away after using the spray. According to prosecutors, he first declined medical help, then later gave inconsistent accounts of what happened.
What Oregon law covers
Oregon law makes it a crime to recklessly discharge “mace, tear gas, pepper mace or any similar deleterious agent” against another person. Unlawful use of tear gas or mace in the second degree is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. The statute and definitions for these chemical agents are laid out in ORS 163.212.
Warrant, charges and current status
According to court records cited by KGW, a Multnomah County judge signed an arrest warrant on Jan. 21 charging Hollinghurst with three counts of unlawful use of pepper spray and three counts of harassment. The filing outlines the sequence of events as reported by the agency and lists the alleged offenses. KGW reports that as of Thursday there had been no arrest in the case. The outlet also reports that TriMet says Hollinghurst was working as a road supervisor at the time of the incident and is no longer employed by the agency.
TriMet response and safety steps
TriMet’s safety setup relies on a combination of Transit Police officers and on-street Customer Safety teams, along with a Security Operations Center that monitors cameras across the system. Riders are encouraged to report safety concerns by texting or calling the agency’s RIDE line so staff can dispatch help. More details on TriMet’s security structure and rider resources are available from TriMet.
How to help investigators
Anyone with information about the Aug. 17 incident is asked to contact local law enforcement or the Multnomah County court system so tips can be routed to investigators. Contact details and court information for Multnomah County are available on the court’s website at Multnomah County Courts.
