Portland Pita Pit Employee Charged With Hate Crime

PORTLAND, OR – A man who was working at the Pita Pit in Southwest Portland earlier this month is charged with a hate crime after an incident earlier this month. Kelly Roberts was indicted by a grand jury in Multnomah County Court.

Court papers say that Roberts was working at the Pita Pita on Southwest 5th when he became enraged at a customer.

Deputy District Attorney Nicole Hermann says that Roberts approached a woman eating and "began to call her names including racial slurs." Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts

She says that he also "picked up a metal chair and held it over his head" facing the woman "while continuing to yell profanities."

Roberts then allegedly picked up the woman's iPhone and smashed it.

A witness called 911.

Roberts who has previously been convicted of crimes including theft and arson, is charged with intimidation, menacing, theft, and criminal mischief.

Photo via Multnomah Count Sheriff's Office.