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Why did Ted Wheeler pepper spray unmasked man? Portland Mayor dubbed 'f**king disaster' after controversy

The mayor did not know who this man was, but both Wheeler and former mayor Sam Adams described the man to be about 40 years of age with glasses and sporting 'dark clothing'

On Sunday, January 24, 2021, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler used pepper spray on a man that had confronted him and former Mayor Sam Adams without a mask. Reportedly, the man that approached them had a video camera with him and had approached Wheeler and Adams as they were leaving a pub. The Oregonian reported that Wheeler and Adams had finished eating at the McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House located on Southwest Sunset Boulevard at approximately 8 pm that night.

Why did the incident occur?

A Portland Police Bureau report released on Monday afternoon said that that a middle-aged man had accused them of eating without a mask on. Wheeler reportedly told the man that Adams and he had eaten in a "tented" area of the pub that didn't have a requirement of face masks or coverings. Wheeler reportedly told the police that the man who accosted them followed him "closely" as he was walking to his car. The police report revealed that Wheeler said, "He had no face mask on and got within a foot or two of my face while he was videoing me. I became imminently concerned for my personal safety." He had also added that he was “concerned about contracting Covid."

“I clearly informed him that he needed to back off. He did not do so I informed him that I was carrying pepper spray and that I would use it if he did not back off. He remained at close distance, I pulled out my pepper spray and I sprayed him in the eyes," added the mayor. After the incident, Wheeler also said that he had given the man a water bottle so that he could rinse his face. “He seemed surprised and backed off. He made a comment like ‘I can’t believe you just pepper-sprayed me,'" Wheeler had said to the police. 

The mayor did not know who this man was, but both Wheeler and Adams described the man to be about 40 years of age with glasses and sporting "dark clothing" according to the police report. He was "shorter than 6-feet tall, with a medium build, wearing a dark-colored and heavy jacket." According to Tim Becker, a spokesman for Wheeler, the mayor is "cooperating with the police investigation and encourages others involved to do the same." The incident became public on Monday morning when Wheeler was asked by Portland Mercury reporter Alex Zielinski to confirm if he had used pepper spray on someone the night before. Wheeler had revealed that he had filed a police report and offered no other details. “I can tell you there was an incident. I filed a police report. And that’s all I can tell you right now," he said. The full report can be seen here.

Internet reacts to the incident

"is this legal? Can you assault someone and then leave the scene? Does Wheeler's claim of "self defense" allow him to do this? He also states he did not call police but his staff," asked one user. Another simply added, ""Ted Wheeler" is a f*cking disaster!" 

According to Wheeler, he only pepper-sprayed the man that approached him because he was worried about his safety and contracting the deadly virus, some seem to have wondered if he was in the right by using the pepper spray. Other's thought it was ironic considering the mayor was already dining out. "He said he was worried about contracting covid but he was eating at a restaurant. Seriously this story is just dripping with irony," tweeted one user. Another added, "While I'm not a huge fan of Ted, I fully applaud the behavior. People thinking it is okay to physically intimidate and harass others for the hell of it deserve far worse."

This wouldn't be the first time Wheeler has been approached in such a manner. He was also accosted earlier this month as he was eating in Northwest Portland where a member of a left-wing activist group made physical contact with the mayor. Not to mention, many demonstrators part of the 2020 racial justice protests in Portland demanded the mayor's resignation as they set fires inside his condo building and broke his windows - the mayor had to move after the incident.