Homeless Man Arrested for Attacking Gay Man Walking a Pink Poodle

Oregon police arrested a homeless man for a possible hate crime on Saturday. The suspect allegedly attacked a gay man with a wrench on Friday and hurled anti-gay slurs during the incident, Oregon Live reports.

George Allen Mason, 22, of Hillsboro, Ore., which is about 18 miles west of Portland, Ore., allegedly used an anti-gay epithet when he attacked a 26-year-old man who was with his boyfriend and walking their pink poodle.

NBC affiliated television station King 5 identifies the alleged victim as David Beltier and his boyfriend, Jeremy Mark.

"Honestly I'm devastated by it," Beltier told King 5. "My family is all concerned about me."

"I'm just thankful he didn't have a more serious weapon like a gun and pull it out," Mark said.

"He could've gone more at it and killed me on that sidewalk," Beltier added.

According to Hillsboro police spokesman Lt. Mike Rouches, Mason noticed the dog's dyed pink fur while driving, made a U-turn, jumped out of his car and assaulted Beltier with a wrench. He added that the suspect, who was driving a dark blue Land Rover, hit the alleged victim in the back of the head, then got back into his vehicle and took off.

Police found the car in the parking lot of a Target store early Saturday morning. The authorities say Manson's wife, Saraya Gardner, 23, was in the SUV and she was cited for interfering with a police officer because she refused to cooperate with the investigation. Nevertheless, Mason was arrested.

Rouches said the victim suffered a bump on the back of his head but did not need medical treatment. The victim told police he did not know Mason, who police say is homeless.

Mason was arrested on accusations of second-degree intimidation, second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and reckless driving.

Watch CBS affiliated television station KOIN Local 6's report on the incident below: