On Friday, July 8, 2022 at 1:39p.m., a Central Precinct Sergeant was in front of the precinct at 1111 SW 2nd Avenue when two cars pulled up. One driver was yelling at the other. The sergeant requested additional officers and attempted to deescalate the situation by separating them.
The sergeant learned that one driver was the victim of a bias crime and was menaced by what he thought was a gun. Officers took the driver into custody. No gun was located.
Bias Crime Unit Detectives responded and assisted with the investigation. The investigation revealed that the suspect, Neal Hollis Walker, 54, pulled up to the victim in the area of South Macadam Avenue and South Taylors Ferry Road, made bias statements about the victim being of Asian descent and the belief he was from China. The suspect then pointed a black object in a manner that made the victim believe it was a gun. The suspect then drove off, but the victim followed him and called 911. Both drivers went to Central Precinct. The investigation revealed that the object used by the suspect was a black plastic air hose. It was seized as evidence. The victim was uninjured.
Detectives booked Walker into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Bias Crime in the Second Degree and Menacing.
The Portland Police Bureau investigates all reports of bias-motivated crimes and encourages any member of our community who is the victim of such a crime to contact law enforcement. Under Oregon law, bias crimes are defined as any criminal act that targets a victim based on the suspect’s perception of the victim’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or national origin. Detectives work to determine whether or not bias elements are present during the reported crime that align with Oregon law as defined in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS):
* ORS 166.165 – Bias Crime in the First Degree – https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.165
* ORS 166.155 – Bias Crime in the Second Degree – https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.155
To learn more about bias crime investigations and reported bias/hate crime statistics within the City of Portland, please visit https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/77066
