Who is Dominic Austin? Oregon man arrested for hurling racial slurs, threatening to rape and kill Black neighbors
PORTLAND, OREGON: Oregon man Dominic Austin, 19, was arrested on September 20 for threatening his Black neighbors in his apartment complex.
Per KOIN 6, Nubrittany Smith and her mother, who are tenants at Landings at the Morrison Apartments, have been receiving threats from Austin for months after they shifted to the apartment block in June.
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Why was Dominic Austin arrested?
Videos of Dominic Austin threatening the mother and daughter showed the extent of his crude behavior. The Ring security camera of the Smiths recorded him pounding on the door to threaten them with a knife.
His threats gradually increased and ultimately led to him hurling rape threats and racial slurs.
In one of the videos, Austin is heard saying, “You’re about to get murdered.” Another tenant also substantiated the claim of him holding the knife.
Smith said to KOIN 6, “You have to make sure you look outside your peep-hole. You look at your Ring camera before you exit your home,” before adding, “Honestly, it’s like you live inside of a jail or something.”
Smith continued, “We were terrified, we were upset, we didn’t know what was going on,” and said they eventually decided to put the videos to use.
She said. “Instantly, we took the videos from the Ring camera, attached them to an email and sent them to the Landings at the Morrison.”
Smith said while she informed the police on June 30, a day after the first incident of threatening, nothing happened and Austin continued to reside in the complex.
The victim further added that while she sought help from both the Gresham Police and the apartment complex management, she received no help.
She said, “As a Black woman, we, (my mother and me), I felt that we weren’t heard,” and added, “I feel that we were not important.”
After multiple pleas, Austin was notified by the management on September 8, the outlet reported.
Austin was finally arrested on September 20 and faces one count of menacing and 10 counts of violating a stalking protective order.
Another tenant of the same building sought a protective order against Austin in August after he made similar threats.
Austin however, continued to make the threats till Tuesday, September 19. Smith was also given a protective order against him on the same day.
What did the police say about Dominic Austin?
The Gresham Police said in a statement to the outlet, “We are aware of the terrible conduct of the suspect in this case, including statements that indicate the motivation for the crime is hate or bias.”
They wrote, “We share in our communities’ concern and appreciate the unique impact bias crimes, in particular, have on victims.”
“Although the suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody, the investigation is continuing. We are working with the district attorney’s office to ensure the suspect is charged with the appropriate crimes,” the police continued.
However, a distraught Smith is not happy with the entire scenario as she said, “I was failed by the system and by the Landings at the Morrison.”
Saying that she feels unsafe, Smith continued, “I don’t feel safe. Because he’s in jail today but I don’t know what tomorrow is going to be. He could be released at any time. Then what happens next?”