Oscar Burell Jr., a 33-year-old man accused of reckless driving while filming himself for Instagram posts, appeared in a Multnomah County courtroom on Tuesday to assert that he is not a threat to public safety.
Burell, who serves as a caregiver for his ill grandfather, sought to portray himself as a harmless individual amidst a backdrop of serious allegations against him.
Conversely, prosecutors and Portland police depicted him as a significant danger to the community. Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Alex Garcia described Burell as a ‘ticking time bomb’ during the court proceedings.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the accusations against Burell stem from reckless stunts he allegedly performed on three occasions—specifically March 25, 27, and 28—which he recorded and subsequently shared via his Instagram account, ‘keepingitlittlike06.’
The affidavit reveals troubling details of his actions. On March 25, a Portland Parks & Recreation employee observed Burell driving his blue GMC truck onto a pedestrian footpath at Peninsula Park. He reportedly spun his vehicle in circles on the grass, raising serious concerns about public safety.
A few days later, on March 27, a video surfaced showing Burell driving erratically through Farragut Park while yelling, ‘they call me a menace to society.’ This was followed by another video the next day in which he was filmed hanging out of his truck’s driver-side window, sometimes driving hands-free, according to the affidavit.
‘He has narrowly, by luck, not injured anyone,’ Garcia remarked, highlighting the potential danger of Burell’s reckless behavior.
In response to the charges, Burell pleaded not guilty to multiple misdemeanor counts, including reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and six counts of reckless endangerment.
During the court session, Garcia argued that Burell, who had been arrested and released the previous Friday, should be taken back into custody and held on bail. He described the defendant as a public safety risk, noting that Burell has bragged about his reckless antics and his encounters with law enforcement.
Contradicting these claims, Burell, dressed in a black jacket with ‘O’Dawg’ emblazoned on it, objected to the prosecutor’s assessment of him.
Burell’s recent arrest occurred when he called 911 to report a hit-and-run incident in the 3700 block of Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. As he alleged that another vehicle struck him while he was standing in the road, an officer recognized Burell as a wanted suspect and requested assistance for his arrest.
Following his arrest, police towed his blue 1994 GMC Sierra, the very vehicle allegedly used in the reckless driving videos.
Burell’s troubles gained traction weeks prior to his arrest when police began investigating him after receiving tips from community members and media reports regarding his Instagram posts.
In court, Burell expressed a desire to represent himself, but Judge Chanpone Sinlapasai decided not to take him into custody. Instead, she imposed the condition that he wear an ankle monitor and prohibited him from driving for the next six months. Additionally, the judge restricted Burell from operating a vehicle within public parks and parking lots.
‘The actions of this self-proclaimed “menace to society” seriously endangered our community,’ stated Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez following the hearing. He expressed disappointment in the court’s decision to continue Burell’s release, emphasizing the commitment to holding him accountable.
As the proceedings wrapped up, Judge Sinlapasai cautioned Burell, reminding him, ‘Through this trial, your Instagram, your car, everything you do is a part of this case now.’
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/04/judge-in-portland-orders-ankle-monitoring-for-driver-accused-of-reckless-stunts-shared-on-instagram.html
