Man Burning Clothes on the Street Allegedly Yelled Racial Slurs, Stabbed and Bit Bystander: Police
Corey A. Nesenson is facing several assault charges after allegedly harassing an interracial couple and attacking a bystander, authorities say
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An Oregon man has been arrested after allegedly yelling racial slurs at three people and biting and stabbing one of them with a pair of scissors, according to reports.
Authorities responded to a Portland, Ore., street on Saturday, where a man had allegedly lit clothes on fire, The Portland Police Bureau said in a statement over the weekend.
Fire service personnel at the scene said the suspect, Corey A. Nesenson, also allegedly stabbed a bystander with a pair of scissors and bit him while “calling him racial slurs,” the statement said.
Portland police were soon dispatched to the scene. As Nesenson, 42, was being arrested, he allegedly spat on an officer, authorities said.
Nesenson has been charged with second-degree assault, first-degree bias crime, aggravated harassment, reckless burning and fourth-degree assault, police said in the statement.
Investigators also suspect Nesenson may have “chased after a bi-racial couple and called them racial slurs” before the alleged assault on the victim, per the statement. The couple had not been located as of Saturday, police said.
The stabbing victim was identified as Payton Thomas by KGW 8 and FOX 12. Thomas told KGW he was visiting a friend in the neighborhood when he saw Nesenson allegedly light the fire.
He also claimed he saw the suspect chase the interracial couple. “He was really trying to attack them,” Thomas claimed, KGW 8 reported.
Nesenson then charged at Thomas and his friend, he alleged, according to KGW 8. Thomas claimed the suspect then yelled a racial slur, per FOX 12.
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Thomas said he “felt the bite” and was stabbed with the scissors, per the outlet.
Attorney information for Nesenson was not immediately available and it wasn’t clear if he has entered a plea.
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