Man Confronts Suspected Car Prowler; Gets Stabbed: Police

PORTLAND, OR — A man in Southeast Portland's Lents neighborhood was stabbed Wednesday night after catching and confronting the person who was trying to break into his car, according to Portland police.

The stabbing victim sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury, police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Burley said.

Justin Karl Sennert, 31, was arrested nearby shortly after police were called. Sennert was taken to hospital after his arrest because he told officers he swallowed an unspecified substance, Burley said. After his discharge from the hospital, he was taken to Multnomah County Jail and charged with robbery and assault.

Sennert is also being held on a warrant for previous charges related to possession of both heroin and methamphetamine as well as delivery of methamphetamine.

Just after 11:15 p.m. July 11, Portland Police Bureau East Precinct officers were dispatched to a reported stabbing in the 7800-block of Southeast 92nd Avenue.

The injured victim told officers he'd found his assailant — later identified as Sennert — trying to break into his car. But when the victim confronted him, Sennert pulled a knife and stabbed him before running away.

Officers and a K9 team located Sennert a short time later hiding in some brush near Southeast 92nd Avenue and Southeast Flavel Street, less than 500 feet from the scene of the stabbing, Burley said.

Sennert told officers he'd swallowed the unspecified substance after he was taken into custody.

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Anyone with additional information about this incident that could assist the investigation should contact the Portland Police Bureau's Detective Division Assault Detail at 503-823-0479.

This post was updated from a previous version after police identified Sennert as the suspect.

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