'Devastating and heartbreaking': The rise in domestic violence calls in the Portland-metro area
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man who police say stabbed a woman multiple times and touched off an hours-long standoff faced a judge in court Thursday.
Within the hour, Beka Nebi Dekebo faced charges including second-degree attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon. In addition, new details have emerged about what led up to the reported stabbing. It speaks to the deadly impacts of domestic violence across the region.
Court documents reveal the victim was allegedly stabbed with a kitchen knife in the apartment she shared with Debeko. And according to her statement to police, it wasn't his first attempt.
But as horrific as those details are, Debeko’s arrest is the fourth in a span of six days connected to violent and deadly acts against women. Resource organizations told KOIN 6 News calls about such incidents are up this year.
"There are people here 24/7, regardless of where you are in our community that can reach out and help you," said Brittini Lasseigne, the CEO of YWCA Clark County. She noted calls for domestic violence are up about 100 from this time last year.
This comes after a string of arrests for dangerous and deadly cases over the past week.
"We just had incidents happen in the news on Friday and then on Saturday and then we're seeing some more news this week,” Lasseigne said. “We do expect that we will have an increase in calls probably in the next couple of weeks as people are reflecting on their situation."
Camas-Washougal Battalion Fire Chief Kevin West was arrested Friday, accused of murdering his wife in the January.
The day before, Lindy Rummel was found shot to death in her home near Hockinson, Washington. Authorities later arrested her husband, James Rummel and his friend, Darrell Riley, in connection to an alleged murder-for-hire plot.
"It is devastating and heartbreaking anytime we receive news that there's been a lethality due to domestic violence," Lasseigne said.
On Wednesday, after an hours-long standoff in Northeast Portland’s Hazelwood Neighborhood, police arrested Dekebo. Court documents reveal the woman was attacked in the apartment Dekebo later barricaded himself in. The victim told police her boyfriend had stabbed her multiple times, woke her up, and told her that she needed to "repent" and that there had been no prior argument.
As documents also show, the victim said he previously tried to attack her but chose not to call police. KOIN 6 News asked Lasseigne what barriers might dissuade victims from seeking help.
"There can be a lot of fear. When people seek out help, that is when they are at highest risk of violence escalating. So that highest risk of the lethality happening," she explained, adding isolation and finances are other obstacles but help is available.
"We want to end the cycle of violence we want to decrease what is happening in our community and these are the times that we are most reminded of why we're doing this," Lasseigne said.
While anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, Lasseigne wanted to stress the dangers of strangulation, saying people who are strangled in their relationships are ten times more likely to become the victims of a homicide.
If you or someone you know is seeking help, below is a list of local and national resources:
- YWCA Clark County (Safe Choice) in Vancouver, WA
- Domestic Violence Help in Vancouver, WA 24-HR Hotline: 360-695-0501
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- Multnomah County - Resources for Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Trafficking