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‘Open-air psych ward’: Portland drug counselor records ‘terrifying’ attack by homeless man

April 29, 2023 | | Print Article

A drug counselor in Portland, Oregon named Kevin Dahlgren had a terrifying experience with a homeless man who attacked his car with rocks, believing he was going to get inside at one point and noting that the city has become an “open-air psych ward” for the mentally ill.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

The transient was obviously mentally unstable and violent. He smashed the counselor’s windshield and threw rocks at other cars and businesses as well. It’s just one more instance of drug use and crime skyrocketing in Portland where criminals, addicts, and the mentally ill rule the streets more and more.

Dahlgren appeared on “Fox & Friends First” Thursday and recounted the shocking attack after he went to investigate reports of a man “acting crazy” in the area. Unfortunately, he got a little too close to the show and experienced first-hand the man’s unhinged, vicious attacks. He referred to Portland as an “open-air psych ward” during the interview.

“It was terrifying,” Dahlgren commented.

He has over two decades of experience in social services and despite that, he was taken by surprise by the man and feared for his life.

“He ran at me full speed, nearly smashed my driver’s side window, and that’s why I just kept driving,” the counselor commented.

Residents and businesses are terrorized by these people in Portland. Many are leaving over it. The population in the city has declined for a third straight year, according to census data. Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office has reported a 50% increase in homelessness from 2019 to 2022 and the presence of 700 homeless encampments across the city.

Dahlgren did what he was supposed to per protocol in such a situation. He reported the attack to a mental health outreach team but received no response, even though he warned them that the man was wielding a rock and posed a danger to others. Out of desperation, he then called the police, who also refused to do anything.

“What does it take to get someone like this help?” he angrily asked. “Who is supposed to help this person if not the people we pay to help? It was really frustrating.”

(Video Credit: NewsNation)

“Fox & Friends” was told by another Portland resident in March that a homeless man had threatened to burn her house down after she confronted him when he took up residence behind her home.

“It’s frightening. Something’s going to happen,” lifelong resident Vivica Elliot commented. “You don’t have any rights as a homeowner to tell a camper to leave, so we’re kind of stuck… You want to be able to trust the administrators of your city, and it’s kind of like that’s not going to happen, so we’re on our own.”

Another resident named Jacob Adams begged for help from city officials after he was terrorized by homeless people repeatedly setting massive fires directly next to his home.

“I love Portland and I love where I live,” Adams told “Fox & Friends” in a February interview. “I’m asking you to please do something, so the people of the city feel safe.”

Oregon holds the dubious distinction of being the worst state in the union when it comes to the prevalence of mental illness on the streets, according to Mental Health America.

Dahlgren is not sure he can continue his outreach in the community as mental health needs continue to spiral out of control, leaving citizens “vulnerable” and “victimized.”

“We’re doing a really terrible job with mental health-type services in this state,” he asserted. “It’s dangerous now for everybody.”

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