Little League Fields in Northeast Portland Burgled and Vandalized

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTPV) – Wilshire Riverside Little League Baseball Fields in northeast Portland are normally a paradise for Little League players and families, but recently they have been plagued with burglaries and to campers using canoes as bathrooms.

“Somebody had literally defecated inside a McDonalds paper cup, multiple cups and the smell of urine and feces was pretty strong in there,” said John Naekel, coach and member of the Wilshire Riverside Little League Board of Directors. “Lots of open fires, trash burning, dogs, loose dogs, friendly dogs, prostitution and solicitation, people coming and going and being solicited as they go out with their children .” Naekel said the region has always faced problems, but in the past six months things have gotten worse.

“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to anyone who is part of it and I don’t want anyone trying to take this into their own hands to try to make things better. I don’t want any friction between the people who live there and the families who come here to train and play baseball,” he said.

Naekel even tried calling 911 for help.

“It took them nine hours to return my call. An officer returned my call and basically told me there was nothing I could do unless you videotaped it,” Naekel said. He said he contacted the city and the mayor’s office several times, but nothing changed.

“Everyone points fingers at everyone and says it’s not our problem. It’s their problem, and we still don’t get any results,” he said. Over 500 children play in the league and use the pitches and it was the 120 volunteers who were left to clean up the mess left behind.

“We just don’t want anything bad to happen and I don’t want there to be any dangerous or dangerous interaction with anyone out there,” he said.

Fox 12 has contacted Mayor Wheeler’s office and is awaiting a response.

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