The man who caused the evacuation of the Target store at Mall 205 in east Portland on Monday had hit a security guard with a hatchet before hiding from police in the rafters of the store’s warehouse, court records show.
Michael Harper, 41, of Portland, “axed” the security guard two times “in the neck,” according to the guard’s account in the probable cause affidavit. Police arrested Harper hours later on allegations of attempted assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
Christian Buckner, the store’s security guard, said he first encountered Harper outside the store and Harper told him he was waiting for a ride. Harper then entered the store and used the guest-services phone multiple times, according to court records. Buckner told Harper he could wait for his ride in the store’s Starbucks…