PORTLAND, Oregon — A man charged with hitting a woman on the head with a large rock last week appeared in court on Thursday. This is just the latest in a string of random and violent attacks on Portland streets.

Dwayne Anthony Simpson, 40, just released from the Unity Center for Behavior Health, allegedly attacked a woman, according to court documents. Police said the attack was random, but it wasn’t the first time they had dealt with Simpson, court documents report Simpson had threatened to attack a woman on his 911 last month. Indicates notification.

The attack occurred on August 9, when multiple Portland police were dispatched outside the Unity Center in northeast Portland.

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When police arrived, they found a bloody woman with a bandage on her head, according to court documents. The woman told police she was leaning against the building and she saw Simpson walking back and forth. When she turned around, Simpson allegedly hit her over the head with a 34-pound rock about the size of a basketball.

“I think it’s a terrifying situation,” said Gwendorian Stratator, who lives across the street from the behavioral health center where Simpson was staying. “Portland has so much crime, it’s a really bad scene. There are a lot of people who don’t walk here often right now.”

After being hit, the woman fell and hit her head against a concrete wall. Witnesses told police she fell to the ground and she did not move for about two minutes. She was then taken to hospital.

“I really feel sorry for that woman who got hurt because I don’t want to see anyone hurt anyone else,” Strohter said.

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Simpson admitted walking behind the victim with rocks but denied hitting her. Police spoke with two of her witnesses to the attack, according to court documents. Officers arrested Simpson and charged him with three felonies, including second-degree assault and illegal use of a weapon.

Just last month, police responded to two calls regarding Simpson’s mental health. Court documents show that on July 24, 2022, Simpson had both homicidal and suicidal tendencies and had his 911 call that he wanted to kill a woman or child. Police took him to the hospital. After he was released, police responded to another call in which he was yelling, “I’m going to hit a woman’s skull.”

For those who live and work nearby, these random attacks have become all too common.

“I’m not surprised,” said Eoj Johnson, who works nearby. “It’s disappointing. It’s becoming the new norm for ongoing violence. There are a lot of people out there struggling with mental health, but when people say they’re going to do something, they should take it seriously.” think.”

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Melissa Eckstein, President of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, issued the following statement to KGW:

“We take the health and well-being of our patients seriously and consider what we are seeing in our community to be tragic. and our thoughts are with those injured in the attack… When a person comes to the Unity Center, we see him in the psychiatric emergency services — our emergency Departments, a consistent increase in numbers over the past two years Many people come in and stay for less than 24 hours About 65% of them are homeless By June of this year, We have treated over 5,000 people in our emergency services, which is an average of about 1,000 people per month…We continue to advocate for the resources and support we know are sorely needed. I will continue.”

Simpson pleaded not guilty in court Thursday. He is scheduled to return to court on September 30.