PORTLAND, Ore. — Spoiled food, wet blankets, ripped tents and broken furniture cover a vacant lot off Northeast 148th Avenue and Couch Street. It's what is left of a homeless camp that has been growing there for years, creating unrest for both those living in the mud and the surrounding homes.
Byron, who's 25 years old, has been staying at the camp for just over a year. On Wednesday, he tightened the straps around his sleeping bag as he prepared to find a new spot to sleep.
"It’s honestly really embarrassing living like this," Byron said.
On Tuesday morning, Portland police raided the site that's on private property with a warrant based on community complaints of shootings and open-drug use.
Police confirmed there have been two recent shootings, as well as assaults, at the site. On Jan. 28, there were reports of at least 24 gunshots but nobody was injured, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Two days later, on Jan. 30, one man was shot twice and taken to the hospital with serious injuries. PPB said he survived.
When officers raided the site on Wednesday, Byron said they were basically told to come out with their "hands up." He said he sat on the curb for hours with handcuffs on before police released him.
"I ended up falling asleep while I was handcuffed on the curb," he said. "It just took forever. Everybody was cold. Everybody's wrists were really hurting."
Portland police said about 20 people ran when they arrived, so they were not identified. Officers detained 30 others and arrested 12 for outstanding warrants, ranging from first-degree robbery and second-degree criminal trespassing. PPB said some were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) or served citation-in-lieu-of-custody (in cases where the warrant specified a citation was to be issued with a new court date).
Byron and others were given a warning that if they were caught on the private property again, they would be arrested for criminal trespassing.
Police returned Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. They arrested someone who had a nationwide U.S. Marshals felony warrant, as well as another for re-trespassing on the property.
"There was just a lot of bad things going on," said Nova, who camped there for the past two months. "There was shootings, and there's been fights, and it's been loud, and rampant drug use."
"There's also a lot of mental illness on the streets, too," Byron added. "Yes, drug deals are happening but there's also people who need help with their mental stability."
Tammy, who lives next door, said it's a dangerous problem that brings her to tears.
"Well, my parents are old, and they got people peeking in their windows and doing drugs out front," she said.
Tammy pointed out a muddy handprint left next to their front door by a homeless person who was peeking through her parents' window. "It scares me," she said.
"I wish the state would help people find a place to live so this wouldn’t happen," added Patrick, who also lives nearby.
During the raid, one housing outreach worker was there onsite, police said. All 30 people detained were offered shelter. Eight of them expressed interest. It’s not clear how many of those eight took them up on that offer.
"They don't help with housing," Nova said. "They like to say that they’ll help and give you resources, but they never do."
KGW was told that the owners plan to put up fences to keep people out.
Portland police said their work at the site isn't done. They know homeless people are still there, and until the property owner gets a cleanup crew, they will continue to do extra patrols.