Police in Gresham say a man experiencing a mental health crisis caused a series of disturbances at and near the Golden Knight Motel on East Powell Boulevard, including vandalism and erratic behavior that alarmed neighbors.
According to Gresham police, the first call came in around 12:30 a.m. when a homeowner reported a man “wandering naked in the neighborhood” and pulling plants from the yard. The family, who told Fox 12 Oregon that children were home at the time, shared Ring camera footage showing the man completely nude as he rang their doorbell and threw a doormat. Officers made contact with the man after he had at least partially clothed himself, but said his behavior at that moment did not meet the threshold for a mental health hold.
Hours later, another neighbor discovered white powder scattered across his porch. “They sent a police officer, and he said, ‘Oh yeah, it’s from a fire extinguisher. You got pranked. Probably somebody from the motel,’” neighbor Kirby Kilness told Fox 12 Oregon. Police noted there was no direct evidence tying the incident to the same individual.
Later that morning, officers were called again—this time to the motel itself. Witnesses said the man vandalized the motel manager’s car, tore a door off his own room, and threw furniture from a second-story balcony. Police said the man appeared to be a danger to himself, and he was ultimately placed on a mental health hold and taken to the hospital by ambulance. Neither the manager nor the original caller chose to press charges.
Neighbors told Fox 12 Oregon that crime and drug activity continue to plague the area. In 2024, Gresham police fatally shot a man inside the motel after he was found actively stabbing another person in a room. Locals say various organizations have used the motel to house individuals coming out of rehabilitation programs, mental health facilities, and the prison system.
Police statistics show calls to the Golden Knight Motel have decreased. In 2023, officers responded to 169 calls at the property, with 40% of those for welfare checks. By 2024, that number had dropped to 104 calls, with 26% welfare-related. So far in 2025, there have been 44 calls, with only 13% tied to welfare checks.
Still, some neighbors say they haven’t seen much difference. “I understand these people need help. But they should be housed somewhere in an industrial area where there’s not family and kids around,” Kilness told KPTV.
Fox 12 Oregon reports the Golden Knight Motel was contacted for comment.
