Robert Bosket was arrested on charges of burglary, harassment and strangulation.
Aloha resident Robert Bosket, 50, was arrested August 16 after he allegedly invaded the home of his gay next-door neighbours and attacked the couple, according to Sergeant Vance Stimler of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
When Bosket showed up at David Christensen’s home on SW 187th Ave. around 10 p.m. August 16, he was “upset over some trees that were trimmed by Mr. Christensen,” Sgt. Stimler said. After opening the door, Bosket allegedly pushed Christensen to the ground and began strangling him.
“Our next door neighbour pushed his way into our home uninvited, hit me, tackled me to the floor, and proceeded to strangle me while yelling anti-gay slurs,” Christensen said in an email. “I managed to push my attacker off of me, but he refused to leave my home and he had me trapped on the floor for more than 10 minutes while he threatened me and screamed at me.”
Police arrived on the scene and arrested Bosket, who admitted to calling the men “faggots” and “fags,” while the couple alleged he also called them “butt fucker” and “bitch,” police said.
Police charged Bosket with burglary I, harassment and strangulation but are not pursing a hate crimes enhancement at this time. As of press time Bosket was being held at the Multnomah County Correctional Facility with bail set at $5,000.
“We have to talk to the DA about [whether or not to investigate it a hate crime]. I don’t think Oregon has a hate crimes statute,” Sgt. Stimler said. “We’re not investigating it as intimidation.”
ORS 166.155, Intimidation in the Second Degree, includes in its definition assault motivated by a person’s perception of the other’s sexual orientation. While the motivation of the assault may or may not be bias related, Oregon law clearly covers anti-gay bias crimes.
According to Christensen, this is not the first time he and his partner have been subjected to anti-gay harassment by a neighbour. On August 12, he reported a death threat made by another neighbour who also called him a “whiney faggot,” police said. No charges were filed.
“There was no crime,” Sgt. Stimler said, explaining that though Christensen and his partner alleged that the neighbour threatened them, there was no third party corroboration.
Christensen said he and his partner no longer feel safe in their own home.
“We hope our story will help raise awareness and create a safer and more supportive environment for local LGBTQ residents,” he wrote.
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