The man accused of attacking a Japanese American family visiting Portland over the weekend failed to appear in court Wednesday morning.
Authorities say 34-year-old Dylan Kesterson attacked a Ryuichiro and his daughter while they were riding a tandem bike near Eastbank Esplanade on Saturday, KPTV reports. Kesterson allegedly came out of nowhere and started shouting racial slurs at the family.
Bystanders intervened as Kesterson began physically attacking Abe and his daughter. Police arrested Kesterson shortly after. He was released but appeared virtually in court on Tuesday.
“He hit my head numerous times and actually he was focusing on hitting our heads and not other parts of our body and we felt we may be killed,” Abe told the court on Tuesday, KOIN reports.
Kesterson called into court that same day to plead not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted assault, fourth-degree assault, two counts of first-degree bias crime, third-degree attempted assault, second-degree bias crime, and harassment.
He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning but did not show up, KPTV reports. A judge has issued a no-bail bench warrant for his arrest.
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