Portland man arrested after allegedly 'chasing pedestrians' with stolen forklift

( Post Millennial )

On Tuesday, 31-year-old Portland, Oregon man Joffre M. Zalinski was arrested and charged with first degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle after allegedly stealing a forklift and driving it around the streets and sidewalks to chase residents.

Local news reports that in a 911 call someone reported they saw the suspect in the forklift and "driving erratically and chasing pedestrians" on the city streets and was driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

Police responded to the call and quickly arrested the suspect whom they found on Southwest Harvey Milk Street and Fourth Avenues.

Local radio KBND reports the suspect allegedly stole the forklift from a parking garage in downtown Portland. He reportedly "maniacally" laughed as he chased locals with the forklift. Bystanders said that he shouted "I literally stole this" while he laughed and even chased locals onto the sidewalk with the vehicle.

According to Fox News, Zalinski was booked in Multnomah County Detention Center.

Joffre Mark Zelinksi was also arrested in 2021 for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Crime in Portland has risen in recent years as it also deals with an unprecedented homeless crisis. Portland surpassed its all-time record for murders in November 2022 after its 93rd homicide. The previous record was in 2021 with 90.