Man accused of bias crime after downtown Portland dog attack

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — A man faces assault and bias crime charges after authorities say he ordered his dog to attack a Black man after calling the victim racial slurs earlier this month.

Police say 29-year-old Zachary T. Hay was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center on two counts of assault in the second degree and one count of bias crime in the first degree.

Authorities say on May 12, a Black man was on Southwest Alder Street when Hay called the man a racial slur and ordered his dog to attack after Hay recognized the man from his security job at a Downtown Portland grocery store.

The victim was seriously hurt with injuries on his chest and hand, and authorities said there was also another victim, a white man, who was injured during the attack.

On May 20, one of the victims was in downtown Portland when he spotted Hay and called the police who took him into custody.

Police say the dog was taken to Multnomah County Animal Services.

Police said they believe there was another victim with “significant injuries” from the attack and they are asking anyone with information to reach out.

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