DEPUTIES RESCUE INFANT, ARREST ONE FOLLOWING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT

 Multnomah Co. Sheriff's Office

On Friday, February 19, 2021, at approximately 1:13 a.m., Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported assault at a home in unincorporated Multnomah County near Powell Butte Nature Park. An adult female reported being physically assaulted by an adult male before fleeing the residence to call for help. The woman also reported that, in her escape, she left her three-month-old infant behind. She feared her child was in grave danger. As deputies responded, they learned the suspect, Zaday Atenogenes Rojas, 35, was reportedly in possession of weapons.

As deputies rushed to her aid, they witnessed the suspect’s vehicle, a red Ford SUV, leaving the area at a high rate of speed. They observed it crash into another car and a snowbank in the 17400 block of SE Franklin Court in Southeast Portland, (pictures attached). The deputies immediately approached the vehicle and noted the suspect was holding the infant on his lap. Rojas did not cooperate with deputies’ lawful orders and did not surrender the infant. Instead, Rojas refused to exit his vehicle and used the infant as a shield. After a short period of time, deputies eventually took Rojas into custody and rescued the infant. Deputies ensured the child was safe and was reunited with the mother. The woman was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. She is expected to survive. The infant was also transported for a medical evaluation and was not injured.

Members assigned to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit and members of the Multnomah County Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) were activated for this investigation. 

Mr. Rojas was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of:

• Assault II
• Strangulation
• Kidnap I
• Menacing
• Custodial Interreference I
• Reckless Endangering Another Person
• Resisting Arrest
• Interfering with a Police Officer

The investigation is ongoing, and no further comment can be made at this time.

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Multnomah County's Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) works to increase victim safety and offender accountability in high risk/high lethality domestic violence cases through a collaborative interagency response that considers the needs of victims and their children.

Additional, web-based resources are available from Multnomah County's Domestic Violence Coordinator's office: http://web.multco.us/dv

Call to Safety provides access to advocacy services, including confidential peer support, information and referrals to community resources. The 24-hour crisis line can be reached at 503-235-5333, or 1-888-235-5333.