An Oregon City man is accused of spraying bear repellent towards a group of bicyclists during an argument in the parking lot of a store on Sauvie Island over the weekend.
Kenneth Lyle Tester, 68, was in his Ford F150 truck when he got into the alleged altercation with the group as they arrived about 12:30 p.m. Sunday into the lot of the Cracker Barrel store, 15005 N.W. Sauvie Island Rd., said Lt. Steve Alexander, a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
Tester allegedly sprayed the repellent towards one male rider and then drove away.
Alexander said the spray may have hit other members of the bike group and the man who took the brunt of the repellent told deputies Tester bumped him with his truck as he was leaving. Authorities were called after the alleged incident took place.
Tester flagged down a deputy heading to the scene and he returned to the parking lot, Alexander said.
Tester was eventually arrested, booked into jail and later released. He pleaded not guilty in Multnomah County Circuit Court Monday to unlawful use of Mace and reckless endangerment.
He also faced an unlawful use of Mace charge from a Sept. 2011 incident in Troutdale, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in November 2011, but the charge was dismissed a month later.
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