This still frame from recorded surveillance video shows the “Sellwood slasher” waddle up to the family’s first car to slash its tires. Note that the doors on his vehicle have a different color than the car itself. (Surveillance video)

A Sellwood family is still puzzling over why a man, unseen at the time but caught on video surveillance, seemed to target them specifically – by damaging the tires on both of their cars parked on S.E. Linn Street, at about 9 p.m. on Sunday evening, May 25th.

At first, in the light of the following day, the family thought that they’d just run over a nail – but when they found flat tires on both of their vehicles, they realized this wasn’t a coincidence. Resident Renee Hayes said that she felt “really violated” when they reviewed surveillance video from the night before – and beheld the tire-slasher himself, caught in the act. Unfortunately the video was of insufficient resolution to reveal any of the man’s features.

The family watched as a vehicle – with doors that didn’t match the rest of the car – drove down the street, backed up, did a three-point turn, and slowly drove up to Hayes’ car.

A Caucasian pot-bellied man wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and jeans got out, bent down, and stabbed the driver-side tire. The man waddled back to his car, got in, drove a few feet forward – and then stopped and got out again, and repeated the vandalism on Hayes’ husband’s car.

The family filed a report with the Portland Police Bureau. But, they’re left with a feeling of unease, Hayes said.

If you have information about this case, or if the description of the vandal or the details of his vehicle ring a bell, please e-mail your information to – crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov