'Laughing maniacally,' chasing people: Details of a downtown stolen forklift joyride

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A probable cause affidavit has released details on the unusual Tuesday incident that saw a man steal a forklift and take it on a joyride through Downtown Portland, Ore.

Jeffrey Zelinski, 30, is charged with burglary, theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and criminal mischief.

The events below are alleged by the court affidavit filed by police and the deputy district attorney.

Police say that on March 28, Zelinski was seen on security footage at a parking structure driving the forklift down from the 6th floor of the structure. In order to get the forklift out of the building, he drove it through fencing and a steel chain. The forklift had been parked at the structure by a construction company and was valued at $80K.

A witness told the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) she was nearby when she saw a forklift on the sidewalk. She first thought it might be there to do construction, until she saw the forklift drive off the sidewalk and chase a pedestrian across the street while the driver laughed "maniacally."

She saw the forklift drive all over the road, into oncoming traffic, and at pedestrians. She also heard the driver yell "I literally stole this!" over and over while smiling.

A PPB officer was dispatched on the report of a forklift trying to hit cars and people.

After searching, he saw a large orange forklift driven by the suspect and watched as the forklift turned onto a one-way street and into oncoming traffic.

The officer activated his patrol car lights, and in response, the forklift made a U-turn, lowered the forks from chest to ground level, and began driving toward the officer.

The officer positioned the patrol car in front of the forklift and assumed there would be a collision, but Zelinksi stopped in front of the vehicle.

The officer stated he left his car, walked up to the forklift, and talked to Zelinski.

Zelinski claimed he did construction work for "Axiom," but had to look around for the brand on the forklift before answering.

When asked where he got the forklift, Zelinski said, "some parking garage, I don't know."

He then gave the officer an expired driver's license and casually mentioned there might be a federal warrant for his arrest.

PPB officers arrested Zelinski and took him to the Multnomah County jail.

A representative for the company that owns the forklift said that Zelinski was unknown to them, and the PPB stated that a trail of evidence like security footage and broken chains appeared to confirm Zelinski as the suspect.