SPRINGFIELD, Oregon — A Briggs Middle School student reported a threatening man’s behavior Thursday morning leading to the man’s timely arrest, Springfield Police said.
The boy was riding his scooter behind the Albertson’s store at 19th and Marcola Road on his way to school at 7:45 a.m. when he encountered a “vulgar, disheveled man” who engaged him, threatening to kill him before the boy fled, police said.
The boy immediately reported his encounter to school officials upon his arrival.
A Springfield Police School Resource Officer was summoned from Springfield High School and the description of the man was shared with officers in the area.
Police immediately recognized the description as that of Justin Offill, a man police had encountered near 28th & Olympic Street at 8 a.m. in response to a motorist complaint that Offill had lunged at their car during the morning commute.
SPD said that Offill is no stranger to them, and “has a history of angry, aggressive and combative encounters with citizens and police.”