A bizarre Portland case involving an early-morning break-in, a business owner jolted awake inside his own building, a pair of bolt cutters, three gunshots, and a $10 million lawsuit has finally reached its conclusion, and it is the kind of story that perfectly captures why so many people feel like the system has been turned upside down.
In a city where residents have spent years complaining about theft, repeat offenders, property crime, and what they see as a revolving door of light consequences, this case struck an especially raw nerve. Kenneth Voyles, who was homeless at the time and had multiple convictions involving stolen cars and burglaries, broke into Touchstone Granite & Marble on Northeast Columbia Boulevard in March 2023 and was shot three times by business owner James Grant during the confrontation that followed. Voyles later argued that Grant used excessive force and should be held financially responsible for the injuries he suffered.
Then came the part that left plenty of people shaking their heads. Voyles wanted $10 million…