PORTLAND, Ore. — Days after I-84 closed down temporarily for graffiti cleanup, Portland police arrested a teen for tagging a retaining wall near the old Gordon's Fireplace building in Northeast Portland.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of "suspicious activity" in the area of Northeast Broadway and Northeast 33rd Avenue. When they arrived, officers saw people spray-painting a retaining wall on private property, Portland police said.
Two people were detained and one ultimately arrested, 18-year-old Asher Bengston. Bengston was charged with first-degree criminal mischief after officers searched his bag and found full bottles of paint, Portland police said.
RELATED: Five-mile stretch of I-84 in Portland reopens after weekend closure due to graffiti, trash cleanup
Portland police said officers have been actively patrolling the streets around I-84 after a five-mile stretch closed over the weekend for 13 hours to clean up graffiti and trash. It was part of a $20 million project to clean up campsites, graffiti and trash along Oregon interstates.
Over 100 workers from six different Oregon public agencies worked on the five-mile stretch of I-84 from 11 p.m. on Saturday to noon Sunday.
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