Man accused of kicking disabled stranger on TriMet will be sent to state mental hospital

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These mugshots were taken in 2014, during two of the four times Tyler Wayne Nees was booked into Multnomah County jail.

(Multnomah Co. Sheriff's Office)

A 27-year-old man accused of repeatedly kicking a disabled man wearing leg braces on a TriMet bus will be sent to the state mental hospital for treatment to see if he can become fit for trial.

A doctor has found that Tyler Wayne Nees has bipolar disorder and isn't mentally fit to be tried for the April 7 attack. Nees also has been charged with four other unrelated incidents, including delivery of marijuana and fourth-degree assault.

Judge Edward Jones said Thursday that Nees, also known by the last name of Ness, will go to the Oregon State Hospital for treatment. Jones noted an Oregon Supreme Court ruling in March might mean Nees could be forced to take antipsychotic medications if he refused treatment.

“It’s possible under certain conditions, but let’s hope we don’t get to that,” Jones said.

Nees was arrested after a man who wears leg braces told Portland police he was riding the bus to a friend’s house, near Southeast 60th Avenue and Belmont Street, when another passenger kicked him a few times in the legs.

The victim, Shane Arnold, followed the man he said attacked him off of the bus near Southeast 34th Avenue and Belmont. Arnold told police that when he confronted his attacker, the man shoved him to the ground and kicked him again and again, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

Nees was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief and interfering with a peace or probation officer.

He has been booked four times into Multnomah County jail this year.

The judge is scheduled to hear another report about Nees' progress in about two months.

-- Aimee Green

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