An Oregon man is facing second-degree bias crime charges after yelling racist slurs at a 78-year-old Black woman and attempting to hit her with his car. According to police, John Blackmore was arrested on Tuesday (July 28), nearly two months since the incident.
Blackmore began yelling profanities and slurs at the woman, who was double-parked at an apartment complex and waiting for her son. The woman reportedly moved her car to let Blackmore back out, but instead of leaving he began gunning his car toward hers.
“The woman moved her car to let the man back out, but instead of leaving, he drove his car at her continuing to yell,” police said in a statement on Wednesday (July 29.) “He passed by her, turned around and drove back at her again.”
Authorities say the woman then got out of her car because she was worried Blackmore was going to hit her. The man also got out of his car and began walking toward the woman while raising his fists and continuing to yell slurs. Thankfully, the woman’s son saw what was going on from his apartment and rushed downstairs to protect her. Police say the son stood in between his mother to block her from Blackmore, who then began yelling at both of them.
An apartment complex neighbor heard the yelling and called the police to the scene. Before police arrived, Blackmore got back into his car and drove away. Although he was a stranger to everyone there, cops were able to identify and locate him from the witnesses’ descriptions and his partial license plate number.
Blackmore was booked at the Washington County Jail and charged with two counts of second-degree bias crime and two counts of harassment.
“As a reminder, Hillsboro Police encourages anyone who experiences an act of bias or discrimination in the city of Hillsboro to report it immediately,” police said in a statement.
If convicted for the crimes, Blackmore could face up to three years in prison and a $17,500 fine.