Portland man attacked by dog ​​in bias crime speaks out

PORTLAND, Ore. — A man who police say was the victim of a bias crime shares his insight into what happened the day of the attack and what led to his attacker's arrest presumed.

Marcus Evans was near Southwest 13th and Alder on May 12 when he saw a young man being attacked by a pit bull and tried to intervene.

“He threw his dog at me while shouting racist insults. The dog got me pretty good, he got me on the chest and on the thumb,” Evans told KGW.

Portland police described the injuries Evans suffered in the attack as “significant.” According to court documents, Evans suffered bite injuries to his chest and right hand, including the partial degloving of his right thumb. He was shot several times at the hospital after the incident.

Then, a little over a week later, Evan saw the man and his dog again.

“Eight days later, I'm walking my dog ​​and I see him and the dog again,” Evans said. “I was able to follow them remotely and get the police there, and they were able to recover him.”

Zachary Tyler Hay, 29, now faces nine charges, including second-degree assault and first-degree bias crime.

On Thursday, Hay pleaded not guilty. Court documents say he told authorities his dog “went loose” after Evans — along with another man, Troy Cooper, who tried to intervene when the dog attacked — had been ” aggressive” with him.

The dog was taken to Multnomah County Animal Services, according to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).

Hay is being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Evans told KGW last year alone that he was the victim of four bias crimes. He says the assault left him feeling insecure and he's ready to leave Portland after four years living here.

“I've lived all over the United States… in the South and everywhere, and I've never had such a racist reaction anywhere else; this is the last place I expected it,” he said. he declares. “I'm moving soon, and it's because of all this.”