PORTLAND, Ore. — A man faces felony assault and bias crime charges after calling a Black man a racial slur before ordering his dog to attack him earlier this month, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and court documents obtained by KGW. Three people were injured in the incident.
Police responded on May 12 to reports that a dog had attacked multiple people near Southwest 13th Avenue and Alder Street. Officers spoke to two witnesses, Marcus Evans and Troy Cooper, who reported seeing a white male attacking a teenage boy outside their respective apartment windows, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The suspect was later identified as 29-year-old Zachary Hay.
The affidavit states that Hay commanded his pit bull to attack the teen, and the dog bit him several times. Evans and Cooper both went outside to confront Hay, and when Hay saw Evans, a Black man, he called him a racial slur and indicated that he recognized Evans from his job as a security officer at a downtown Portland grocery store.
Hay then allegedly ordered his dog to attack Evans, who suffered injuries from bites to his chest and right hand, including partially de-gloving his right thumb.
Cooper, who is white, heard Hay call Evans a racial slur and attempted to intervene, according to the affidavit. The dog bit Cooper in the groin, causing bruising and pain, according to court documents.
Hay ran off after the incident, but Evans later ran into Hay and his pit bull on May 20 and called 911. Hay was arrested and taken to the Multnomah County Detention Center. His dog was taken to Multnomah County Animal Services, according to a news release from PPB.
Hay later admitted that he remembered the May 12 incident and that his dog "happened to get unleashed" during the incident, according to the affidavit. Portland police said Hay also claimed that Evans and Cooper had been "aggressive" with him, which led to the dog attacking them.
Hay was charged with one count of second-degree assault, one count of first-degree bias crime, one count of second-degree assault, one count of second-degree attempted assault, and three counts of maintaining a dangerous dog, according to a court filing from the district attorney's office.
Portland police said they believe a third person may have been injured during an encounter with Hay and his dog. Officers released photos of them and are asking the unidentified third victim to contact police.
Hay was arraigned in court Tuesday afternoon and pleaded not guilty.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Matthew Brown at matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 24-116932.
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Hay's last name. Initial court documents used an incorrect spelling.
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