A white Oregon man is accused of making racist threats and ordering his dog to attack a black man he encountered at a bus stop.
Mathu Dwain Karcher was walking his pit bull in Portland when the victim got off a city bus, according to court documents, and the man said he was uncomfortable with the dog walking so closely behind him, reported KGW-TV.
The dog was directly behind the victim while Karcher was several yards away, according to investigators.
The 40-year-old Karcher responded to the black man's request by ordering his dog to "get 'em," which the victim perceived as a threat.
The man was unable to run away due to a prior knee injury, but the dog did not attack.
That's when Karcher made a racist threat, the man told police.
“(He said) something to the effect of, ‘N*gger, you’re in the wrong neighborhood!’” the man told officers.
The victim walked to a nearby restaurant, and Karcher continued to follow him and make threats.
"(He said) if his dog was not willing to get him that he would kick [his] ass," the victim told investigators.
Karcher followed the victim into the restaurant and continued making threats, but he left after an employee asked him.
The employee spotted Karcher outside after police arrived and pointed him out to officers, but he denied following the victim and making threats.
Police arrested Karcher on Sunday on menacing and intimidation charges.
