PORTLAND AREA MAN SENT TO PRISON FOR STABBING ROOMMATE OVER RENT DISPUTE - 03/13/26

March 13, 2026

Case: 25CR13190

Portland, OR- Lazarus Ramirez,(also known as Larry Garcia and Lazaro Garcia) 43-years-old was sentenced to 110 months (just over nine years) in prison today for attacking his roommate with a knife.

A Multnomah County jury found Ramirez guilty of Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon for the incident which happened March 6, 2025.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Sam Wilton prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing he said: 

“The victim is lucky to be alive. If not for the help of first responders, including the Trauma Team at OHSU, he would no longer be with us. It is horrifying to think that Mr. Garcia brutally attacked him over a dispute about rent. That sort of senseless violence can’t be tolerated. I’m grateful the Major Crimes Unit and the Special Emergency Reaction Team of the Portland Police Bureau were able to apprehend Mr. Garcia after he fled so that he could face justice.”

The District Attorney’s Office would like to highlight the work of the Portland Police Bureau, including their Major Crimes Unit and Detective RaeLynn Mckay, as well as the officers of the Special Emergency Reaction Team.

MCDA would also like to recognize the work of MCDA Victim Advocate Alex Bidwell for the care and compassion he showed to the victim here.

THE FACTS:

On March 6, 2025 the defendant and the victim  were living as roommates. An ongoing argument had developed between them over Garcia not paying his share of the expenses.

According to the victim, Garcia returned on March 6, 2025 after being away and stabbed the victim 10 times. Mr. Garcia then fled. First responders arrived to find the visibly-injured victim. He was taken by ambulance to hospital, where the Trauma Team at OHSU saved his life. Police apprehended Garcia in April 2026.

PORTLAND MAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS PRISON FOR SHOOTING RED LIGHT CAMERAS - 03/07/26

Case: 24CR29762

Portland, OR- A Portland man who shot out red light traffic cameras above city streets was sentenced March 4, 2026 to two years in prison and was ordered to pay $55,548.20 in restitution. The sentence was handed down by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Lavin based upon an agreed upon resolution of the parties. 

Chase Payton Grijalua, 30-years old, pled guilty on March 4, 2026 to Unlawful Use of a Firearm with a Firearm, two counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon, and Criminal Mischief in the First Degree. He was sentenced to 24 months prison, and 60 months of formal probation with 60 months of prison suspended. That means if he violates terms of his probation he could be ordered back to prison for 60 months. 

Deputy District Attorney Aileen Santoyo prosecuted the case for the state. 

After the sentence she said: 

“Mr. Grijalva’s actions were extremely dangerous and caused a sense of alarm in the community. Mr. Grijalva used a firearm multiple times within city limits and caused over $50,000 of property damage. This sentence provides Mr. Grijalva with upfront custody time and a period of probation while he is out in the community. During this period of supervision Mr. Grijalva will be required to obey all laws, not possess firearms and engage in services.” 

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Portland Police Bureau for their work on the case. 

THE FACTS:

On June 10, 2024 a person flagged down a Portland Police Officer at the corner of SE 122nd and SE Stark. The person told police somebody had just shot out the traffic camera and left the scene. Officers found five shell casings on the ground. The witness and another man gave police a good description of the suspect and his car. A short time later they were able to track it down and arrest the driver, Chase Grijalva.

After being read his Miranda warning, Grijalva told officers he had been shooting out cameras for more than a week and estimated he’d shot seven cameras.  

                                    ###MCDA###

CO OWNER OF PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY GOES TO PRISON FOR ASSAULT WHILE ON THE JOB - 03/06/26

March 6, 2026

Case: 23CR16111

Portland, OR- A former private security company co-owner was sentenced March 4, 2026 to 27 months prison for attacking two people with excessive force while on duty.

Jesus Mendez III Ayala, who is now 39-years-old pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the Second Degree.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Quinn Zemel prosecuted the case for the state. After the sentencing he said: 

“We expect security officers in our community to act with restraint and to have respect for others in enforcement of their duties. Here, the defendant abused his position of power and violated the trust the public gave to him. This sentence sends a signal that the law applies to everyone.”

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank Portland Police Detective Carlos Ibarra for his excellent work on this case.

MCDA would also like to thank MCDA Victim Advocate Olivia Hames for the care and compassion shown to the victims in this case.

The Facts:

December 10, 2022 a man wearing a light colored cowboy hat was trying to go back inside El Mojito PDX located at 1222 SE Stark Street in Portland. A security guard confronted him and refused to let him enter the building. As the two began to argue, the man’s cousin came over to separate them. One of the security guards, Ayala, sprayed both men with pepper spray. The cousin, wearing a ball cap, turned away and covered his eyes, and leaned against the side of the building. Ayala then shot the man with a pepper ball gun. The man stumbled away and his cowboy hat fell off. That interaction was caught by a security camera. Moments later, off camera, the defendant shot the man with pepper balls multiple times. Ayala directed another security guard to hit the man, the guard used a collapsible baton and hit the man multiple times including on the head. The man told police he tried to cover his head and that the blows broke fingers. 

The other security guard,  Steven Alyn Bomgardner, pled guilty on April 5, 2024 to the charge of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree  (case 23CR16113) and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

                                            ###MCDA###

JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON (re-sending To Show Crimes All Happened In 2025) - 02/27/26

JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON

February 27, 2026

Case: 25CR55217

Portland, OR- Christopher McGinnis pled guilty today to six counts of Burglary in the First Degree and two counts of Theft in the First Degree. 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced McGinnis to 50 months prison (four years and two months) along with three years of post prison supervision.

Deputy District Attorney Alexander Garcia - the head of the Multnomah County Burglary Task Force - prosecuted the case for the State. After the sentencing he said: “Portland is a world-class biking city and the Burglary Task Force intends to keep it that way.  People who break into buildings to steal bicycles will be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Burglary Task Force, Portland Police Bureau Officer Elliott Walker, and the Portland Police Bureau for excellent investigative work on this case.

THE FACTS: 

From June 2025 through September 2025, McGinnis used a crow bar to break into 3 separate apartment buildings, a combined total of 11 times. On each occasion, McGinnis broke into the building's bicycle storage room to steal bicycles. The buildings McGinnins broke into include The Frankie Apartments in SE Portland, The Cosmopolitan in NW Portland, and Memoir Buckman in SE Portland. 

The burglaries, thefts, and property damage ended with McGinnis’s arrest on September 19, 2025, following an extensive investigation by the Burglary Task Force.

                                               ###MCDA###

JUDGE SENTENCES PROLIFIC BURGLAR, BIKE THIEF IN PORTLAND TO MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN PRISON - 02/27/26

February 27, 2026

Case: 25CR55217

Portland, OR- Christopher McGinnis pled guilty today to six counts of Burglary in the First Degree and two counts of Theft in the First Degree. 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Ramras sentenced McGinnis to 50 months prison (four years and two months) along with three years of post prison supervision.

Deputy District Attorney Alexander Garcia - the head of the Multnomah County Burglary Task Force - prosecuted the case for the State. After the sentencing he said: “Portland is a world-class biking city and the Burglary Task Force intends to keep it that way.  People who break into buildings to steal bicycles will be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Burglary Task Force, Portland Police Bureau Officer Elliott Walker, and the Portland Police Bureau for excellent investigative work on this case.

THE FACTS: 

From June 2005 through September 2025, McGinnis used a crow bar to break into 3 separate apartment buildings, a combined total of 11 times. On each occasion, McGinnis broke into the building's bicycle storage room to steal bicycles. The buildings McGinnins broke into include The Frankie Apartments in SE Portland, The Cosmopolitan in NW Portland, and Memoir Buckman in SE Portland. 

The burglaries, thefts, and property damage ended with McGinnis’s arrest on September 19, 2025, following an extensive investigation by the Burglary Task Force.

                                               ###MCDA###