Portland Social Media Figure Gets Ankle Bracelet After His Hit-And-Run Report Leads To His Arrest

PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland Judge ordered ankle monitoring for 33-year-old Oscar Burell Jr., who faces charges related to reckless stunts he shared on Instagram. Burell was arrested after reporting a hit-and-run earlier this month.

Burell, who is accused of reckless driving in Portland and recording himself while doing so for videos he then posted to Instagram, tried to present himself as harmless in a Multnomah County courtroom on Tuesday.

He claimed he is not a threat to the community and is a caregiver to his grandfather, who is under the weather. Burell said he helps the elderly man get medicine and vitamins.

Portland police showed a different picture, and Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Alex Garcia said in court that Burell is a ticking time bomb.

The charges relate to reckless stunts in his 1994 blue GMC Sierra truck on March 25, 27, and 28 that Burell posted to his Instagram, “keepingitlittlike06. These were videos showing Burell:

• Driving onto a pedestrian footpath up to a grassy area of Peninsula Park where he spun his truck in circles;
• Driving through Farragut Park, yelling, “They call me a menace to society.”
• Hanging out the driver’s side window as he drives.

Using one hand to record, Burell covered his face with his other hand, driving hands free.

On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and six counts of reckless endangerment but objected to the prosecutor’s argument that he should be held in custody.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Chanpone Sinlapasai said she didn’t believe taking Burell into custody was the right choice and ordered that he wear an ankle monitor.

He can also not drive for the next six months and may not drive in public parks or parking lots.