Seattle Man Accused of Spitting on Gay Couple, Black Woman on Metro Bus

[marmar]

July 15--A Seattle man is accused of spitting on a gay couple and a black woman, and using gay and racial slurs, aboard a Metro bus last week, according to court records.

Jeffrey Brooks Knothe, 57, was jailed following his arrest on July 7 and released with conditions the following day, jail and court records show. Charged Friday with malicious harassment, the state's hate crime statute, Knothe was taken back into custody on Monday night, but was then released from the King County Jail on Tuesday morning after posting $10,000 bail, according to the records.

Knothe was charged with two counts of malicious harassment for his alleged treatment of the married gay couple, but charging documents explain the woman he is accused of racially harassing and spitting on left the scene before transit police officers arrived.

It was a little after 7:30 p.m. when the couple boarded a No. 120 bus at Southwest Kenyon Street and Delridge Way Southwest, say the charges. One man wore a "Seattle Pride" T-shirt, while his husband sported a shirt with the rainbow flag logo, according to the charges. As they made their way to the back of the bus, Knothe made anti-gay comments, told them "Pride is over," and raised his hand as if he intended to strike them, charging papers say. ................(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/14038186/man-accused-of-spitting-on-gay-couple-black-woman-on-metro-bus