A Portland man with a penchant for spewing racial hate and throwing punches finds himself behind bars yet again, the Portland Police Bureau reported. Fabian Steven Bigeagle, 51, faces additional counts after a series of assaults in the Hazelwood Neighborhood, which repeatedly targeted a neighbor apparently selected for his race.
After an initial scuffle on February 5, where Bigeagle allegedly punched a man after having used a racial slur against him, he was briefly incarcerated before returning to the scene of the crime, according to police reports the Portland Police Bureau was quick to respond to the first attack but despite their intervention, Bigeagle wasn't deterred, it seems he couldn't steer clear of the trouble he'd started after getting out.
The situation escalated on March 13, resulting in another confrontation where the same victim suffered a repeat of Bigeagle's earlier display of racially-fueled violence, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. This time, the accused fled, forcing the officers to launch a manhunt that concluded with Bigeagle's early morning arrest on March 14, in the same apartment complex.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the suspect is now up against a litany of charges including Bias Crime in the Second Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree, it seems the list of infractions attributed to Bigeagle is as long as the rap sheet of a seasoned criminal and his refusal to respect the law or the dignity of his neighbors remains unabated. The PPB's Major Crimes Unit, which takes a firm stance against bias-motivated crimes, has taken the helm in the ongoing investigation.
Oregon law defines bias crimes as odious acts perpetrated against individuals due to the perpetrator's perceptions of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or national origin. The PPB has encouraged anyone who falls victim to such heinous acts to speak out and pursue justice with the assurance that they will not be left to stand alone in the face of bigotry.
