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An Oregon man spitting anti-Islamic slurs ransacked a convenience store and threatened to shoot his employee in a gruesome confrontation captured on a viral video, authorities said Monday.
Brian Christopher Miller, 43, was arrested on suspicion of first degree criminal mischief and third degree theft, both felonies, according to jail records from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
Miller, of Portland, was jailed Friday night before being released on his own pledge Saturday, jail records show.
Miller could be charged with more charges, including hate crimes, by the time he appears in a Portland courtroom late Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office said. Multnomah district.
Seemab Hussaini, vice president of the Oregon branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he was in contact with those close to the clerk, who cannot understand why Miller was not immediately charged with a felony bias.
“When this man was arrested, they (the clerk’s family) didn’t know this man was being released so quickly,” Hussaini told NBC News. “And the charges do not recognize the violence to which the victim was subjected. What really upsets the family is the inability to recognize the true nature of the crime, at least for now.
The clerk, an elderly citizen and immigrant from Afghanistan, filmed video of the incident before his son posted it to YouTube, Hussaini said.
Footage showed an unmasked man bearing a strong resemblance to Miller’s displays, damaging the cash register, knocking down Covid-19 protective barriers, throwing food at the employee and shouting: you behind the back. “
“Is this the way we do things in America, in Afghanistan? Al Qaeda? Osama?” said the threatening man. “I don’t want your fucking cigarettes now, man. But let’s call the barter system. Five dollars? You can owe me, you can owe me. You call the f … -ing cops. I’m a man. easy to find. “
And it was, as police arrested Miller just outside the Chevron convenience store, officials said.
By the time he was taken into custody, Miller had lost his shirt and was shirtless as a prison photographer took the booking photo.
“Mr. Miller arrived (in jail) shirtless,” said Chris Liedle, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s communications director. “During the reservation process, he was uncooperative, intoxicated and made threatening statements of self-harm. After completing the reservation process, he was given a protective gown and placed in a cell under surveillance.”
Miller did not return multiple voicemail and text messages asking for comment on Monday.
The clerk’s family are grateful that a female customer outside the store called 911 and that a dispatcher worked quickly to bring police to the scene, Hussaini said. The attack came two days before the birthday of the 42-year-old daughter of the victim who died suddenly of sepsis, according to Hussaini.
“It has been a very stressful time for him,” Hussaini said.
Ali Gostanian contributed.
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