A Monday afternoon on Northeast 122nd Avenue reportedly turned chaotic when a Portland man allegedly attacked a work crew, then hurled a knife at responding officers, damaging a patrol car and setting off a tense confrontation before his arrest.
According to KATU, Portland Police were called out around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 20, to the area of Northeast Brazee Street and Northeast 122nd Avenue, where they found 33-year-old Stephen T. Scazzafavo. As officers moved in to arrest him, police say Scazzafavo allegedly threw a knife at them. The blade reportedly struck the windshield of a patrol vehicle, cracking the glass but missing the officers inside.
Where this happened
The encounter played out along a stretch of NE 122nd that city officials have repeatedly targeted for safety fixes. The Portland Bureau of Transportation notes that the city has funded new crossings and other upgrades along the corridor to address a history of crashes and gaps in pedestrian infrastructure.
Arrest and charges
Police say Scazzafavo tried to get away on foot while wielding a metal hiking stick and a flashlight that also functions as a stun gun before officers were able to take him into custody. Earlier, he had allegedly threatened a work crew, hit one worker with a bike pump, and repeatedly struck the crew's vehicle as they tried to drive off, causing what officers described as thousands of dollars in damage. The workers were not injured, according to the report.
Scazzafavo was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on multiple counts, including criminal mischief in the first degree, harassment, attempted second- and fourth-degree assault, menacing, unlawful use of an electrical stun gun, unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment, second-degree disorderly conduct, and three counts of attempted assault of a police officer, according to KATU.
What happens next
The case remains under investigation, and all listed charges are allegations that will be reviewed by the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office. Members of the media or public who have information or questions about the incident can contact the Portland Police Public Information Office. The Portland Police Bureau provides contact details and guidance for inquiries on its media resources page.
