Councilor Avalos Statement on Arrest in Fire Investigation

Portland, OR -Today, Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos issued the following statement in response to the news that Portland Police arrested Vashon Locust in connection to the fire at her home:

After speaking with District Attorney Vasquez this afternoon and learning more about the arrest of Vashon Locust, I have a clearer understanding of what happened and the conditions that led to the fire at my home. I am still learning about Mr. Locust and don't want to speak about him as an individual yet, but I do hope to connect with him when the time is right.

I want to thank the investigators for their careful work, and especially DA Vasquez for taking the time to outline what options exist to ensure Mr. Locust receives the help he needs.

When I asked for patience and cautioned against speculation last week, it was because we are living in a moment where deeply rooted, preconceived ideas about homelessness are being reinforced and weaponized against our most vulnerable neighbors. Across the country, we're seeing the dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness pushed at the highest levels of power, used to justify cruelty instead of care. And that national climate inevitably shapes how we see and treat one another here at home.

This was an act that caused real harm and disruption to my life and others, and it's important that we find a path forward that centers both healing and responsibility. But it's also a reminder that far too many of our neighbors are living in crisis - people navigating untreated mental illness, addiction, and poverty in a system that's failed to catch them before they fall. My hope is that we can hold space for both compassion and accountability and recommit to addressing the conditions that make tragedies like this possible in the first place.