Prosecutors say a tense argument on a Southeast Portland bus ended with a 72-year-old rider getting robbed of his backpack, after a fellow passenger allegedly pegged him as an easy mark.
The victim, who lives in a care facility, told investigators a man pulled a knife, sliced through the strap of his backpack and ran. Officers later tracked down a suspect near Southeast 105th Avenue and Powell Boulevard and took him into custody.
According to court records cited by KATU, the confrontation unfolded on September 27 after a verbal altercation on a city bus in Southeast Portland. A police K-9 team later found a man hiding behind a water barrel and identified him as 60-year-old Benjamin Lars Granberg, who reportedly admitted to the theft.
Prosecutors allege Granberg told officers his girlfriend pointed out the victim and suggested he would be easy to rob because he "appeared elderly and possibly had a mental disability." Investigators say Granberg offered to walk the man home, then took his backpack instead.
How police tracked the suspect
Transit and patrol officers coordinated with a K-9 unit to search the neighborhood close to the bus route where the robbery happened. Authorities say that team effort led to Granberg's arrest not far from the scene.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office oversees TriMet’s Transit Police Division and has recently highlighted multi-agency, high-visibility enforcement missions meant to deter crime on buses and trains and quickly investigate incidents that do occur. Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office / FlashAlert
Charges and prior convictions
Court filings show Granberg was arraigned Monday on charges of first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held without bail in connection with an alleged probation violation.
KATU reports that court records list a June 2025 conviction for attempted felony assault, along with earlier convictions from 2003 for arson, burglary and robbery.
What riders and neighbors should know
TriMet urges riders who see suspicious or threatening behavior to speak up. Riders can alert the operator, call 9-1-1 in an emergency, or contact TriMet’s security hotline at 503-238-7433 (RIDE) for non-urgent issues so staff and Transit Police can respond.
The agency says it has been expanding customer safety and security teams and is encouraging riders to report problems through its security channels as part of a broader effort to improve the transit experience. TriMet
Legal note
Under Oregon law, first-degree robbery is a Class A felony and is included on the list of crimes subject to Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentencing. That framework can lead to significantly longer prison terms if prosecutors secure a conviction.
For more on how Oregon courts interpret first-degree robbery and apply Measure 11 sentencing, legal observers often look to state appellate decisions and commentary on the Measure 11 statute list. Justia
