March 6, 2026
A Portland person who set out to, in his own words, "destroy the eyes of extortion" has admitted to shooting up the city's traffic cameras in a 2024 vandalism spree. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to charges that close a costly and disruptive case for Portland's traffic safety system, after multiple cameras were knocked offline and the city was left with a hefty repair tab. Officials and advocates say the saga has sharpened debate over how to protect equipment that is supposed to be protecting everyone else.
Prosecutors said they uncovered an undated handwritten manifesto in his northeast Portland apartment in which he ranted against automated traffic enforcement and pledged to "destroy the eyes of extortion." Court filings and the plea transcript also describe testimony that, on one occasion, he pointed his handgun at a transit bus driver, a prosecutor told the judge during the hearing.
Found on Mainstream Media