PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Authorities say they arrested and released the homeless person caught taking a nap inside a Portland woman’s house.
On Tuesday, 54-year-old Terri Zinser was taken into custody for first-degree burglary and harassment charges, however, she was released from jail just one day later.
Despite having no criminal convictions, Zinser has been arrested multiple times for criminal trespass, harassment and theft. Court documents reveal she’s failed to appear in court 11 times before.
KOIN 6 News reached out to the District Attorney’s Office, who said they typically decline cases due to insufficient evidence of a crime occurring, legal impediment or if a follow-up investigation is needed.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler released a statement to KOIN 6 about the arrest.
“I applaud the swift action taken by PPB to arrest the suspect and present the case for prosecution. We look now to our County partners to ensure the impact of this defendant’s conduct on the victims and community are given sufficient weight, and that appropriate pretrial supervision and services are in place to prevent further harm,” Wheeler said.
Investigators say Zinser is the woman who was caught on Ring camera video walking into a Northeast Portland home. Kelsey Smith told KOIN 6’s Joelle Jones it was “horrifying” to discover a stranger sleeping in her 10-year-old son’s bed.
“She started by going up to my neighbor two doors down and urinating on their porch, and then she came directly over to my house, came in, crawled up into the bed and that whole thing happened,” said Smith. “They actually found her five minutes later around the corner trying to break into somebody else’s house. So, what happens the next time that she breaks into somebody’s house, and they have a gun?”
Smith also said that she “can’t believe” Zinser isn’t behind bars.
“It’s absolutely insane to me that she’s not behind bars. Moreover, she’s going to end up getting shot. And it’s going to be her fault, it’s going to be the city’s fault,” she said. “They’re not doing enough for these people who have mental health crises, they’re not doing enough to keep these people off the streets, they’re not doing enough for the homeless population.”