Authorities are investigating a sexual assault reported at one of Southeast Portland’s most popular bars and night clubs, staff and police told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The alleged attack occurred March 31 at the White Owl Social Club during a daytime dance party celebrating Holi, a renowned Hindu festival held worldwide, according to the bar and cops.
In the weeks since, a person claiming to be a parent of the alleged victim has placed a number of enlarged photos publicly around town that show a man the person claims raped their daughter.
The posters, copies of which have also been shared on social media, ask anyone who may have seen the man at the party to call Portland police.
Authorities have yet to make an arrest.
“We were upset to hear that a patron had reported being victimized on our premises during a privately promoted event,” Cara Mahon, the White Owl’s general manager, said in a statement.
“We are cooperating with law enforcement by doing everything we can to support the investigation.”
Sgt. Stephen Yakots, a bureau spokesman, confirmed police took a sexual assault report but declined to provide additional detail, citing the ongoing investigation.
Around 100 people dressed in white and paid $20 to attend the White Owl rendition of Holi, which celebrates the coming spring and involves participants throwing colorful powders on each other.
“It’s like the best 4 hours of Burning Man, with colors AND Bollywood,” reads a description of the event published on the bar’s website. The event ran from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
-- Shane Dixon Kavanauagh; 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
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