Updated as of 7/3/2023 at 9:45 a.m. ET.:
The Portland Police Bureau have arrested the white man accused of violently attacking a Black food truck owner while yelling racial slurs, according to FOX 12 News. Police say the local tips on his whereabouts were appreciated but not helpful in locating him.
The cops say they caught him as he walking on the street past traffic control.
Daniel Thomas Warren, 40, was arrested after officers saw him walking by the 12300 block of Southeast Division Street. Warren was booked in Multnomah County jail on one count of second-degree assault and currently doesn’t have a bail bond amount. It’s unclear if he will face hate crime enhancements but the Portland Police Bureau said the incident is being investigated as a bias crime.
That’s not all for good news in this case. Attorney Alicia LeDuc Montgomery told FOX 12 that LoRell’s Chicken Shack was open for business Sunday and Preston has returned to work for the first time since the assault. The PPB is still looking for more information on the incident.
“The arrest of Warren is not the end of the work. Major Crimes Unit Detectives are still actively investigating and still want to hear from anyone with information about the assault on June 15,” said a PPB spokesperson via KOIN6.
What Happened?
Initial reports of the incident say the police thought they were responding to a pedestrian hit by a car until they arrived and saw Darell Preston’s bloodied face. The LoRell’s Chicken Shack owner told authorities he was delivering food when he was ambushed, unprovoked, by the punches and kicks of Warren. A video taken by a driver captured the incident as well as a clear view of Warren’s face as he walked away from Preston tucking his bloody knuckles into his jacket pockets. According to the Multnomah County Detention Center, Warren was sentenced in October 2021 for coercion, assault and multiple domestic violence charges.
The police bureau confirmed the case is now being investigated as a bias crime by the Major Crimes Team based on the description of Warren’s alleged racist slur tirade. However, the culprit is still at large.
Read more from KGW8 News:
Earlier this week, attorney Alicia LeDuc Montgomery released a statement announcing that she is representing Darell Preston, owner of LoRell’s Chicken Shack on Foster Road, who was the victim of that assault.
The attacker hit Preston in the head and continued beating him, the law office said, knocking him to the ground and yelling racial slurs. The attack and racial slurs continued as Preston tried to get up.
“I hit you, nigger! stay on the ground!” LeDuc Montgomery quoted the attacker as saying.
Preston’s attorney said requests from the police bureau or Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for more information on the suspect or pursuance of charges have gone unanswered. Now, the wonder if the police did not take the attack seriously. Preston’s attorneys are investigating the timeliness of the government’s response, per the report.
“Any arrest must be based on probable cause and will stand up to scrutiny in any future criminal court proceeding. A misstep now could prevent justice from being served later, and we have dedicated and professional detectives working hard to do things right,” Sgt. Kevin Allen said via KGW8.