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Ted Wheeler, the mayor of Portland, Ore., Sprayed a man on Sunday who confronted him about not wearing a mask while dining in a pub.
Wheeler and former term mayor Sam Adams were leaving the McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery and Public House around 8 p.m. when a man videotaping him said he photographed the mayor while at the inside a tent.
Wheeler said the man followed him to his car while continuing to record and refused to back up, according to a police report.
“He accused me of sitting in a restaurant without a mask,” the report said. “I was actually in the tent area of a restaurant sitting at a table, and informed him that current Covid regulations allow people to take off their masks to eat and drink.
“He then accused me of other things that I indicated that he didn’t understand the rules and probably should have a better understanding if he was going to confront people about them,” Wheeler said. in his statement.
In this August 30, 2020 file photo, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler speaks at a press conference. On Monday it was revealed that he had sprayed pepper on a man who confronted him outside a pub over the weekend about not wearing a mask during dinner. (Sean Meagher / The Oregonian via AP, file)
He said the man was not wearing a mask and moved “a foot or two away from my face” during the encounter. Wheeler said he was concerned for his personal safety and of contracting COVID-19.
“I made it clear to him that he had to back down,” he said. “He didn’t, so I informed him I was wearing pepper spray and would use it if he didn’t back down. He stayed away, I pulled out my pepper spray and I sprayed it in the eyes. “
The man commented to the effect: “I can’t believe you just sprayed me pepper,” “Wheeler said.
He said he threw a water bottle at the man so he could rinse his face. He then informed the authorities and his chief of staff of what had happened.
Wheeler, who was re-elected in November, has already been targeted while in public.
A group of left-wing activists approached him and shouted obscenities at him earlier this month while he was dining at the restaurant. Protesters demanded his resignation due to the city’s response to chaotic protests over the past year which saw routine violence and vandalism.
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Wheeler was forced to move out after his condominium windows were smashed and a fire started in his apartment building.
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