Portland woman stabbed during restaurant robbery; suspect arrested and charged

Police arrested 42-year-old Elias L. Lavelle at about 12:27–12:30 p.m. after a woman suffered knife injuries during a reported robbery at a restaurant in the 400 block of Northeast Hassalo Street in Portland’s Lloyd District, the Portland Police Bureau said. The bureau said, “the customer was injured during the course of a robbery of a restaurant employee at knifepoint.”

Officers assigned to the North Precinct encountered Lavelle standing in the restaurant doorway holding a knife, and the bureau said officers “challenged him, he complied with commands, and was safely detained.” Investigators seized a knife; the PPB released a photo and described the weapon as a fixed-blade knife with a red and black handle placed next to a ruler for scale.

The injured woman, identified only as an adult customer in police statements, was treated at the scene by medics and declined ambulance transport. As KPTV reported, she was “treated at the scene by medics but turned down a ride to the hospital in an ambulance.” KGW described her injuries as “knife injuries” that were “serious but not life threatening.” Police said she was the only person hurt during the incident.

The Portland Police Major Crimes Unit was called to assist with the investigation, and detectives have not released a detailed sequence of events explaining how the woman was struck. KPTV noted, “Police did not say how they believe the woman, the only person injured during the incident, came to be stabbed.” Portland police continue to investigate whether the injury occurred inside the business, at the doorway, or outside.

Local reporting has offered unconfirmed leads about the specific business at the Hassalo Street address. The Portland Tribune reported police tape seen inside River Pig Saloon and quoted the bar’s social media post that said “no incidents” occurred inside the bar; police have not officially identified the business. KGW and KOIN noted the address is linked to a Denny’s, also unconfirmed by the bureau.

Lavelle was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and faces charges listed by PPB as Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Robbery in the First Degree. The Portland Police Bureau is asking anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Unit at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-66346; a Portland Tribune excerpt supplied a different case number, 25-348310, which appears inconsistent with the bureau’s release. Investigators have said the case remains active as they work to clarify the location and circumstances that led to the customer’s injuries.