Spotlight finds high-risk sex offender, forcing him to flee the state
PORTLAND, Ore. – A high-risk sex offender said he's leaving Oregon after KATU News put the spotlight on his whereabouts.
Gordon Michael Strauss was convicted of four rapes since the 1980s and spent a decade in prison. He's known for snatching teenage girls off the streets.
He spent 14 years at an institution in Washington that treats sexual psychopaths, but he wasn't on supervision when he came to Portland last week.
Strauss headed into the Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct in downtown Portland Thursday afternoon and deregistered as a sex offender living in Portland.
He'd most recently listed his address as "homeless" living in the area of Northwest 9th and Lovejoy in the Pearl District.
"You people runned me out of the state, you should be proud of yourself," he told KATU News after he deregistered. He said he hadn’t been treated fairly.
A computer query by Portland Police Bureau Officer Bridget Sickon returned a list several pages long of sex offenders like Strauss who don’t have a permanent address.
There are 250 to 300 homeless sex offenders in Portland.
Sickon said the rules in Oregon for homeless sex offenders are more lenient than in neighboring states, making it a draw for rapists like Strauss.
"And which ones are the other type, like Mr. Strauss, who’s using his right to register as homeless in Oregon as a way to circumvent being monitored," she said.
As for Strauss, he told KATU News he's dying from lung disease.
"I can't walk fast, and I can't deal with this," he said. "So just do me a favor and let me go."
Strauss' lung disease hasn't been confirmed, but he was observed lighting a cigarette while talking about his condition.
Sickon said Strauss is headed back to Washington, specifically Seattle, where he has family and friends and more of a support network.
The On Your Side Investigators want to hear from you. Email them at investigators@katu.com.
THANKS FOR SENDING HIM UP TO MY AREA.
He probably didn't actually live here anyway - they just like to register here because they can claim homeless status and avoid constant monitoring.
How come an individual cannot do such a thing to get a sex offender away from my family, but the news can hound a sex offender and make change??? There's hundreds of them in Portland alone? Gross. Time to start social change people. Homelessness breeds disease.
Oh crap, we got him back! Well we need to do our best to get him to leave Washington. I don't care if he's sick or not. I will be glad to put him out of his misery. No charge.
92 comments so far and I don't think a single one addressed what I thought was one of the more serious problems here.. Portland and Oregon are getting exactly what they ask for, people that don't want accountability.
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Sickon said the rules in Oregon for homeless sex offenders are more lenient than in neighboring states, making it a draw for rapists like Strauss. "And which ones are the other type, like Mr. Strauss, whoâs using his right to register as homeless in Oregon as a way to circumvent being monitored," she said.
 @JGalt You have to read the previous comments on the first article that was linked to this man: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Law-requires-little-supervision-of-high-risk-homeless-sex-offenders-186563051.html .Â
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There - people are nailing the Legislature and politicians to the wall about the fact that they are so lenient with the rapists that live in Oregon.Â
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Please read the comments there - and then comment again.Â
If he were treated fairly as he puts it one of the dad's would have put a .45 cal slug between his eyes...
Not sure what Dr. Rawdog means by "debt to society" comment. A person like this can never be cured - can go to jail and do his time, but when he comes out, he's still a sex-offender. And because he is older and not a treat to a "wimpy chick", he is a danger to a 10 year old girl or boy. Oregon needs to a better job of protecting children - obvious by the totally ineffective DHS.
 @PortlandGeorge Oh, you definitely misread what I said.  He's no "treat" to me. Â
 @Sundowner you wrote "threat" - not "treat" in your post - just sayin....
 @PortlandGeorge Not to sure where you're going with this.  I said he was not "the big threat....", then you said "...because he is older and not a treat...".  As I said, he's no "treat" to me.  This is very confusing.
The guy's 59 years old...I'm a wimpy chick but I think I could make him tap out. Â While I think he's about as creepy (including his looks) as they come, I don't consider him to be the big threat he was 24 years ago. Â That doesn't mean I want him around, but he's certainly not the most threatening perv out there. Â Most of them are scout leaders, church youth group leaders, coaches......
 @Sundowner Tell that to all the 10 and younger girls out there...
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 @Dr. Rawdog Are you single?
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 @Dr. Rawdog  @pdxd Careful there, Doc -- something about the rainbow in that avatar and the speed of the hit.....yeah.  Can't blame a guy for trying though.
 @Dr. Rawdog Because I'm single, and your emoticon gets my heart a thumpin'
 @pdxd  @Dr. Rawdog pdxd you read my mind LOL
"You people runned me out of the state, you should be proud of yourself," he told KATU News after he deregistered. He said he hadnât been treated fairly."
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Like those people he raped were treated fairly? Good-bye. I'm sure you will have fond memories of Oregon.Â
I have the perfect place for this piece of work to go, It's 6' deep
Instead of pontificating on the laws involved in this case, I'll just put this out in to the universe and keep my fingers crossed: Mr. Strauss, I hope that lung disease you're suffering from causes you immense pain. I hope you keep smoking cigarettes and die a slow and agonizing death, surrounded by people who may love you out of a sense of family, but will no doubt be relieved that you're gone and that one less psychopath is on this planet posing a danger to innocent people. Good riddance.
I don't think you can "fix" or rehabilitate people who commit such horrible acts. His comment "I can't deal with this", I understand to be the attention he is getting about his crimes. Well, isn't that just too bad. His victims have to live with his crimes every day of their lives, if he is made to feel uncomfortable - good! I hope he is called on it every day of HIS life. Maybe he did his time, but 15 years will never erase what he did and be considered fair. And anyone who provides a safety net and a support system for him in Seattle is just as sick as he is.
250 to 300 homeless sex offenders. Â This is why I never give to panhandlers. Â
Can't we out them on a list too. Or a special edition of Busted Magazine. (I'd buy that for a dollar!)
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 @Dr. Rawdog  @sorational Sorry but no one should give to pan handlers that is not the right way to help them just create more problems for everyone...
 @Dr. Rawdog Nope.  I give in other ways, like to Janus and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare.  I don't want to give beer money to rapists, molesters, and criminals.
I saw this guy walking down the street in North Portland. He was with two cronies who looked like him. At the time I thought: "CREEPY!!" Â This was about two weeks ago. I'm glad he's leaving the state but too bad for Seattle. Maybe he should live on Devil's Island.Â
Bad Santa!
Being treated "fairly" would mean the same as do unto others as you would have them do to you. He made 4 women (and kids)Â suffer; so when is it his turn, if he wants fair?
Too bad the Law doesnt punish according to crime comitted......throwing him into Shark chummed water....may be appropriate...
 @Glenn Pierce Did he molest sharks?  Guess I'll re-read the story.
Here's one of my many problems with this... Sure, we are all happy he's leaving here, but there are children everywhere.. I really don't want him anywhere free. Everyone should look up his case files, he is a VERY BAD MAN!!! The articles discuss in detail his crimes.... a monster. As far as the lung disease goes, I think we should all purchase him a carton of cigarettes, if we can't execute him.Â
They should pass a law allowing Sex Offenders to live here, just not breathe!
There is no place on this earth for BAD SANTA, with the exception of the White House.in D.C.
Maybe the "Almighty King of Gun Control " would change his mind.
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 @Dr. Rawdog You really make the most ODD statements. Wearing the veteran hat is a ploy.Â
Read an article that he was seen hanging around a school a few days ago.
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 @KC When I saw him and two of his cronies walking down the sidewalk in North Portland they were right by a grade school.Â
 @KC If you call "hanging around a school" being over a mile away.  Lincoln HS sent warning letters (emails?  do they really send stuff snail mail?) to parents since he was seen near 5th/Market -- Lincoln is on 16th/Salmon.  Overkill, if you ask me.Â
Funny in the video he says "you ran me out, you should be proud" as if he wants us to feel sorry for him.Â
What a sickening POS! TAKE OFF THAT HAT! YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO WEAR IT!I hope somebody caps your sick rear end!
@Jim330rifle  Wonder if he really is a vet
@Fed up Most likely not.
Media vigilantism at it's finest!
 @SOIssues Ah, I see our resident pedophile/rapist is back to defend sex offenders! Yes, this was a fine case of running the POS out of town ... as a Portlander, I'm very proud. Made my night in fact. Maybe someday you'll disappear too. =)
And how can we be so certain that he is leaving town?
 @pdxd How indeed....I wondered the same thing.
He doesnt deserve to wear that hat.
 @Cant_Get_Right I agree with you!
Good riddance.
 @QuandoQuandoQuando That Vietnam hat is a disgrace to anyone that served especially showing the CIB and jump wings, but unit affiliation that I could see and will ask him the next time I see him trolling the boulevard....
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DirjUzSvt70
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14 years in Washington's Sex Offender Treatment Programs @ $275,0-00 a year ($3.8 million total) and his successful treatment ending is to be released on the streets homeless, still sick, and in absolute poverty?
 @August100 and the problem with his lot in life is................just what exactly????  He's darn lucky there is no bounty on repeat sex offenders. Â