Gay couple attacked while walking pink poodle
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HILLSBORO, Ore. – A pink poodle sparked what appeared to be a hate crime after a stranger stopped and got out of his car to attack a couple while screaming homophobic slurs.
It happened at 185th and Evergreen next to a busy strip mall with stores like Office Depot and Petco at about 3:30 p.m. Friday. It was why there were several witnesses when the victims said the attacker did a U-turn, got out of his car and went after them in the middle of a crosswalk in the middle of the day.
Hillsboro police said they arrested the suspect, 22-year-old George Allen Mason, Jr. (photo at right), at around 2 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Target store on NW Evergreen, not far from where the alleged attack happened.
David Beltier is happy to be alive.
"If I didn't hear all the other people honking, all the people seeing what was going on, he could have probably severely hurt me, maybe even killed me right there and then," he said Friday.
Beltier and his boyfriend, Jeremy Mark, were on a walk with their pink poodle "Beauty" – one of three colorful dogs dyed with Kool-Aid for Easter. Beltier said he dyed the dogs for fun.
But the fun with his poodle prompted profanities from a stranger who did a U-turn, got out of his car and began punching Beltier in the street.
"After that, he turns around, he goes back to his car, runs back to his car and brings out this long wrench-looking crowbar tool or something like that, and he comes back after me," Beltier said.
He said the man hit him in the arm and the back of the head.
"I just couldn't believe it," said Mark. "I was shouting at the guy to stop. There's no need for violence. There's nothing to provoke him. ... I was fearing for his life."
The man took off, but plenty of people were watching.
"One of the witnesses tried to block him in and got the license plate number for us and then another witness followed him," Mark said.
Police used that license plate number to track down Mason's 1997 Land Rover in the parking lot. Mason is a transient, according to police.
"I'm so grateful for the community," Beltier said. "If it wasn't for a lot of the witnesses and all the community people, it probably could have been really disastrous."
While police said it might be a good idea for his safety to take the dye out of his dogs' fur, Beltier said he doesn't want the attacker to win and have control over his life. He said he'll just let the dogs' colorful fur grow out on its own.
Police took Mason to the Washington County Jail. He faces charges of intimidation (2nd degree), assault (2nd degree), unlawful use of a weapon and reckless driving.
Officers also found Mason's wife, 23-year-old Saraya Gardner, in the car. Police cited Gardner for interfering with an officer because she was reluctant to cooperate. She was in the car during the attack, according to police.
i want to slap them for dying their dogs. i don't care if they are gay.
Did we not see the purple dog dart into the camera view during the interview with these two guys. For me it is a matter of keeping personal...personal. Women who dress provocatively get harassed, men with their pants on the ground get harassed, gay guys who walk pink poodles get harassed. We are a society who have a set of rules we follow and when you go outside of the nine dots you get the attention you were seeking. Good or bad as long as you get attention.Â
I see where everyone else is on this, but what about the poor dog. Where are the animal rights activists on this one.Â
@souptonutsDyeing your dog with something non-toxic is no more cruel than forcing them to take a bath. It's about the same process.
@PleaseBeSmart @souptonuts Hope the dog feels that way, because it really does not have any choice in the matter. Are you absolutely, positively sure the dye is not toxic??
@souptonuts My dogs hate it when I force them in the shower, trim their toe nails or brush their teeth. If you ask them, I'm not being very nice at all when I do those things. :) But yes, it was kool-aid. It's non-toxic and is a simple added couple steps when giving a dog a bath.
@souptonuts@PleaseBeSmartThey said they used Kool-Aid in the article. Go into any pet store and you'll find all kinds of non-toxic color tints for animals. I doubt David and Jeremy would use harmful products on their dog, but George Allen Mason, Jr the creep, probably would beat his own dog if it misbehaves given his scruffy look. Â
@souptonutsA while back, there was an incident in another state where a woman was cited by animal control because she dyed her dog a different color for Halloween. Seems there was a stupid law on the books in that state making it illegal to dye your dog. (I'm not kidding either) Maybe we should have a law in Eugene making it illegal for some of the colors humans dye their own hair?I'm sure the dog didn't mind at all being pink.
What ever happened to the "Golden Rule"- you know: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Â And plain old manners? What kind of parents are kids growing up with?Â
more than likely another vampire not able to handle his meth habit.
Sorry they went through that, I too am hoping the creep gets a pink striped jumpsuit. Â Bullying is cr4p. Â It is a little bit obvious that the couple trying to attract attention to themselves, why else would you dye your poodle pink. Â Too bad that not all attention one attracts can be positive.
@Springfielder Um... maybe they think it's cute? I'm painting my dog's nails pink tomorrow when I give her a trim. I think it's adorable.
Wait--- the police said it might be a good idea for his safety to take the dye out of his dogs' fur? What a pathetic thing to say to them. In other words, "don't be sooo gay- it might get you beat up". I'd be willing to bet BIG money that the guy they arrested has homosexual tendencies that he has not come to grips with yet! He doesn't hate the 'out-and-proud' gay guys -he hates his own closeted self! And the only reason not to release this thug's name is because he is a minor- but they don't say that- I wonder why?Â
wow, glad they caught the guy who did this! Totally not acceptable to do this to ANYBODY! People should be allowed to feel safe from jerks like this!
An act of vicious, illegal bigotry by some thug who should spend a good amount of time in prison, not for a "hate crime" but for assault with a deadly weapon which should be enough to put him away. Â And congratulations to the owner of the dog for his decision to stand his ground on the color of his dog. Â Â Glad the bully was apprehended.
I hope the jailers give the creep who tried to beat David a nice pink / orange jail jump suit just to remind him of his hateful action. Why can't people just get a long? These two were not harming this dumb ass in the least, but he decided it was his place to beat up David. Hope he has a few years to think this over, and over, and over....etc.
why can't we all just get a bong?