A late-night stop at a Hillsboro Chevron turned ugly last Tuesday, and it has now landed a 34-year-old Gresham man with an active arrest warrant after what witnesses described as a racially charged tirade filled with threats and slurs. Onlookers told police the man shouted racist and homophobic insults, threatened violence and then tore out of the lot in a Chevy Tahoe.
What police say
According to court documents, officers were called to a disturbance at the Chevron at 2281 N.W. 185th Ave after a traveling magazine salesman from North Carolina reported that he had been shouted at and physically threatened. Witnesses told police the suspect, identified in court records as 34-year-old Blake Galen Johnson of Gresham, repeatedly used the N-word while trying to punch the victim, pretended to have a gun, and threw in homophobic comments for good measure.
Witnesses also quoted Johnson as yelling, "I'll kill you all first" before peeling out of the parking lot in his Tahoe. Police later tracked down Johnson's vehicle and arrested him. Court records now show he failed to appear for an arraignment, and a warrant has since been issued for his arrest, according to KATU.
Charges and potential penalties
Court documents cited in reporting show Johnson was cited on three counts of first-degree bias crime, three counts of menacing and one count each of DUII, disorderly conduct and criminal driving while suspended or revoked. Under Oregon law, a first-degree bias crime is a Class C felony that can carry up to five years in prison when prosecuted and convicted, according to the Oregon Revised Statutes.
How to report bias incidents
The City of Hillsboro advises residents to call 911 for emergencies and the Hillsboro Police non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 for non-urgent situations. The city also directs community members to Oregon’s non-emergency Bias Response Hotline at 1-844-924-BIAS, which offers support and helps track incidents.
The city’s diversity, equity and inclusion page notes that the hotline provides trauma-informed advocates, language interpretation and an online reporting option for bias incidents, along with guidance on safe bystander intervention for people who witness attacks, according to the City of Hillsboro.
Statewide context
The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s recent bias-crime report shows that Oregon has seen dozens of Bias I (first-degree) filings in recent years, with menacing and disorderly conduct frequently showing up alongside bias charges. The commission defines Bias I as threats or physical injury that are motivated in whole or in part by bias and notes that felony Bias I convictions can result in prison time under state law, according to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
