Portland Mayor Pepper-Sprayed Man Who Confronted Him At Restaurant: Report

Portland mayor Ted Wheeler reportedly pepper-sprayed a man who confronted him and a former mayor at a restaurant earlier this week, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Reporters said Wheeler and former mayor Sam Adams were dining in a tented area Sunday evening (January 24) at Hillsdale McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery and Public House in Southwest Portland. As they were leaving, Wheeler said a man he didn't recognize approached him. The unknown man, while videotaping the incident, accused the mayor of dining without wearing a mask.

In a statement to police, Wheeler informed the man about current COVID-19 regulations, which allows people to eat and drink without a mask on.

“He then accused me of other things to which I indicated he did not understand the rules and should probably have a better understanding if he was going to confront people about them,” Wheeler said in his statement.

The mayor claims the man was standing too close to him, becoming concerned for his safety. He told the man to "back off" and said he would use the pepper spray he carried if necessary. The man didn't listen, and Wheeler sprayed him in the eyes, AP reported.

“He seemed surprised and backed off,” Wheeler told police. “He made a comment like, ‘I can’t believe you just pepper sprayed me.’”

Adam reportedly suggested Wheeler should leave for his safety. Wheeler said he tossed a bottle of water towards the man to wash his eyes before they departed. The mayor is cooperating with the police investigation, according to a statement from his office.

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