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Portland Man Arrested Twice After Two Alleged Unprovoked Attacks Minutes Apart

Portland police say 24-year-old Santos Puerto-Rios was arrested twice after allegedly committing two separate unprovoked assaults on Nov. 25, 2025. He was first booked on a fourth-degree assault charge after a 21-year-old was punched, released, and later identified in an assault on a 69-year-old woman the same day. Puerto-Rios was rearrested Dec. 2 and could face additional charges. The case has prompted criticism of Multnomah County’s release procedures after prosecutors say a request to keep him jailed was not reviewed before his release.

11:56 AM, 12/04/2025Security
Portland Man Arrested Twice After Two Alleged Unprovoked Attacks Minutes Apart

A Portland man was arrested twice within a week after investigators say he carried out two separate, unprovoked assaults on Nov. 25, 2025 — including an attack on a 69-year-old woman that occurred after his release from custody following an earlier arrest.

What happened

Police say the first incident occurred the morning of Nov. 25, when a 21-year-old man reported being punched in the face by a stranger without warning. Officers arrested 24-year-old Santos Puerto-Rios and booked him into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a charge of fourth-degree assault; he was later released from custody.

Days later, relatives of a 69-year-old woman reported that she had been struck outside her home on the same day, Nov. 25. According to investigators, an unknown man approached the woman, hit her without provocation and fled. Detectives later identified Puerto-Rios as the suspect in that second assault.

"NEED HELP IDENTIFYING THIS MAN. He hit my grandma for no reason and ran off. She now has deep bruises from the fall," the victim’s granddaughter wrote when seeking public assistance.

Portland police located Puerto-Rios and arrested him again on Dec. 2, charging him once more with fourth-degree assault. Officials said additional charges may be filed and described both attacks as seemingly random. Police did not immediately disclose details about the woman’s injuries.

Legal and community response

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said prosecutors had filed a probable cause affidavit asking that Puerto-Rios remain jailed until a judge could review the case, but that he was released before any judge had seen the request. "This is an infuriating example of a gap in Oregon law," Vasquez said, calling the early release a missed opportunity to prevent further harm. He added that Puerto-Rios later failed to appear for a scheduled court date.

The victim’s family thanked the community after the second arrest and praised the work of investigators. The Portland Police Bureau offered well-wishes to both victims and urged anyone with information to contact investigators at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be considered as detectives continue to gather evidence.

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