A man is facing a felony assault charge after a 4-month investigation by Portland Police.
On Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10:58p.m., East Precinct officers responded to the 4900 block of Southeast Boise Street on a report that a victim was chased and attacked by a suspect with an axe. Officers arrived and found an adult male victim with a severe laceration to his left leg. The officers applied a tourniquet to control bleeding and summoned EMS. The victim was transported to the hospital with a serious, but non-life threatening injury.
Officers learned the suspect had left in a white pickup. Officers immediately began searching for the suspect, but no immediate arrests were made.
Officers learned that the victim was followed by the suspect after a road rage incident and the men were strangers. The victim was in possession of a hatchet, but the suspect took the hatchet and physically assaulted the victim with it.
The case was forwarded to the PPB Major Crimes Unit and a detective developed a suspect, Joseph K. Chastain, 32, of Portland. On Thursday, December 7, 2023, detectives interviewed Chastain and booked him into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Assault in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. A search warrant served at the suspect’s home led to the seizure of the suspected weapon used.
If anyone has additional information about this case, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-211975.
