A 37-year-old man is accused of a bias crime after allegedly spitting in another man’s face, telling him to go back to his country and threatening him with a box cutter, records show. 

Harold Denson is accused of second-degree intimidation, unlawful use of a weapon and harassment, according to court records.  He’s being held in the Multnomah County Detention Center. 

The incident unfolded Sunday after a manager at a Dick Hannah car dealership on East Burnside Street approached a man, identified by authorities as Denson, who had strewn trash all over, according to a probable cause affidavit. 

The manager handed Denson a trash bag and asked him if he could clean up the area, the affidavit says. 

Denson thanked him, and the manager started to walk away.  But Denson became suddenly agitated and started yelling, the affidavit says. 

Denson allegedly said the property didn’t belong to the manager and asked the manager if he was American and where he was born. 

The manager turned around and addressed Denson, who became more upset and agitated, according to the affidavit.  Denson said he was born in the U.S. and the manager wasn’t, then he spit in the managers face and told him to go back to his own country, the affidavit says. 

Denson then picked up a box cutter that he pointed at the manager with the blade extended, saying he’d cut him, according to the court document. 

The manager started to back away, and Denson kept following him with the box cutter, the affidavit says. 

Officers were called to the area, and they found Denson nearby. 

The box cutter was in his pocket, according to the affidavit. 

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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