A man arrested during a Portland protest for violent behavior went on to allegedly commit two murders after being released from jail by city officials, according to KOIN-TV.
Phillip Lawrence Nelson was arrested by police on June 18 after Cassy Leaton, 22, and Najaf “Nate” Hobbs, 39, were stabbed to death on June 16.
Just four days before Leaton and Hobbs were found dead, Nelson was arrested a protest in downtown Portland on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer, according to court records.
But that charge was dismissed the next day, and he was released from the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt made it clear earlier this summer that his office would not pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police and disorderly conduct unless the allegations include “deliberate” property damage, theft, or force against another person, according to the Oregonian. So Nelson was able to walk free, and just a few days later he became involved in a dispute with the victims.
Leaton and Hobbs were renting a unit in a fourplex from Nelson, according to Hobbs’ roommate. Nelson began staying in the unit, too, prompting the three roommates to change the locks, according to KOIN-TV.
On the day they were murdered, surveillance video footage captured Hobbs and Leaton going into the basement of the building. At one point, Leaton ran out of the basement, stumbling and shouting for help before falling down. Bystanders tried to help her, but she did not survive.
Both Leaton and Hobbs had been stabbed numerous times, according to the police report. Officers on the scene found a long-bladed knife and a “significant amount of blood” inside the basement. Video camera footage recorded Nelson leaving through the back door of the building after the stabbing while bystanders were trying to save Leaton.
Detectives found blood stains on the inside and outside handles of his door, according to court records.
