PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — KOIN 6 News has learned that the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office is looking into possible bias crime charges stemming from a violent attack at a Southeast Portland Chevron station.
The tense exchange and violent outburst was caught on video that KOIN 6 News obtained from the store owner’s son.
In a statement released to KOIN 6 Sunday morning, the D.A.’s office said:
“All potential bias crime cases, whether they are a felony or misdemeanor, are reviewed by the Violent Crimes Unit within the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. We have been working with the Portland Police Bureau’s Bias Crime detective to gather all available police report and evidence associated with this incident so the case can be reviewed by Monday’s expected court appearance.“
KOIN 6 confirmed the man seen in the video is Brian Miller. According to the store owner’s son and what you can see in the video, Miller came into the store to buy cigarettes and started berating his the store owner, who is Afghan. The man made charged comments about the gas station worker’s racial ethnicity, saying, “Is that how we do things in America Afghan? Al Qaeda? Osama? Is it?” before going on a destructive tirade in the store.
The video shows Miller throwing things at the storeowner, knocking over heavy objects in his direction and threatening to kill him. KOIN 6 News has learned Miller was arrested on criminal mischief and robbery charges, both felonies. He was released.
In the meantime, the store owner’s son, who requested that their names not be released for safety reasons, issued this statement:
“I believe this was an example of white privilege. The guy was released less than 24 hours after it happened with just a slap on the wrist. If the roles were reversed, I think the outcome would have been very different.”