October 18, 2019

Man accused of assaulting a passenger while on a TriMet bus

Today, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced the filing of a four-count indictment against 40-year-old Dustin Allen Wood who is accused of assaulting a passenger while on a TriMet bus.

This investigation started on October 9, 2019 when law enforcement responded to reports of a disturbance near the intersection of Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and East Burnside Street in Portland, Oregon.

During this investigation, law enforcement learned an individual, later identified as Wood, got on the bus and immediately started yelling at the bus operator about a fare issue, according to court documents. Police spoke with the victim who said she intervened and told Wood to stop yelling at the driver.

“The next thing she knew she was bleeding all over the place and passengers were telling her she was struck with a skateboard,” according to a probable cause affidavit prepared by Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman.

The victim was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Law enforcement learned that as a result of the alleged assault, she suffered a large and deep gash on her forehead and a swollen eye, according to court documents.

According to the indictment, Wood unlawfully and intentionally caused serious physical injury to the woman by using the skateboard as a dangerous weapon and that he unlawfully and intentionally subjected her, as a passenger, to offensive physical contact and that he unlawfully and recklessly created a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance and alarm by engaging in fighting and violent, tumultuous and threatening behavior.

Wood is charged with one count of assault in the first degree, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of interfering with public transportation.

He is scheduled to appear in Multnomah County Circuit Court at approximately 9:30 a.m. on October 18, 2019 at the Multnomah County Justice Center, Courtroom #3.

No photos or video of this incident can be released due to the ongoing investigation.

This case is being investigated by the Transit Division Police and Portland Police Bureau.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime. Wood is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Like in all criminal and civil matters, electronic copies of court documents, which are not subject to a protective order, are available to the public through the Oregon eCourt Information (OECI) system.

No additional information can be released by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at this time pursuant to the Oregon Professional Rules of Conduct.

#MCDA#

Contact: Brent Weisberg, Communications Director

Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Phone: 503.988.6567 | Email: Brent.Weisberg@mcda.us