Who is Mary Costantino? Portland doctor assaulted by 'homeless' attacker blames 'defund police' policy for cops' slow response
PORTLAND, OREGON: A disturbing incident in Portland, Oregon, saw radiologist Mary Costantino being viciously attacked by a 'homeless' person on July 28. She was out walking with a friend on the Friday night when the attack occurred. The shocking surveillance footage captured the assailant throwing a large silver bottle directly at the 50-year-old victim, rendering her unconscious. Costantino woke up on the ground, fearing for her life, and promptly called 911 for help.
Costantino thought she might not survive
However, Costantino has since expressed disappointment in the city's response time, claiming that it took an inordinate amount of time for the police to arrive at the scene. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Costantino recalled her ordeal, stating that she thought they were still under attack and wanted to verbalize a report in case she did not survive the ordeal. Speaking to Fox, she stated: "I thought we were still being sort of attacked in some way. I was like, I'm going to just try to verbalize a report of what's happening, so there's some record of how I died."
Suspect is White male in his 20s or 30s
As Costantino regained her senses, she realized she had been hit in the face by an aluminum water bottle. The police are now actively seeking the suspect and have described him as a white male in his 20s or 30s, wearing a dark flannel jacket with a dark hood, black pants, and carrying a backpack. Police dispatch records indicate that officers were dispatched twenty minutes after the attack, leaving Costantino feeling abandoned and unprotected. She expressed understanding towards the police and instead held the city accountable for defunding the police force, leading to insufficient resources to protect citizens effectively.
She told the outlet: "I do not hold the police accountable for this at all — I hold our city accountable for defunding the police. "We don't have enough police force to protect our citizens, and we did this to ourselves. If we don't have police officers to come to the side of somebody who is under attack, then we're all on our own."
The incident highlights growing concerns about public safety in Portland, which has been grappling with homelessness and open-air drug issues. The city's homeless population has reached an estimated 5,000 individuals, leading local authorities to consider calling in the National Guard for assistance in May. Costantino's traumatic experience has profoundly impacted her view of the city's handling of public safety, prompting her to change her voting habits from Democratic to Republican. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by urban areas in addressing and mitigating such social issues.