A Portland businessman faces several charges after an argument in a Shaw’s Supermarkets parking lot “escalated into an assault,” police said Saturday.

Michael Roylos, 63, of Portland was charged after a 38-year-old Portland woman alleged that he attacked her after she parked her car at the Shaw’s on Auburn Street about 6 p.m. Friday. The woman said Roylos used “homophobic slurs” against her and accused her of reckless driving, according to police.

She started taking photos of him on her phone, at which point he assaulted her, she said. The woman, whom police didn’t name, fell while running from Roylos and injured her ankle, Lt. Robert Martin said in a statement. She was taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment.

On Sunday, Martin said the department wouldn’t provide more information about how Roylos is alleged to have attacked the woman.

On Friday, a Portland resident named Alana Reali shared videos and photos of a man over social media, saying he had just attacked her in the Shaw’s parking lot. In a Facebook post, she said he had put her in a chokehold and punched her, and also used a homophobic slur.

“Thankfully there were people there as I was screaming bloody murder,” she wrote.

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Through a Facebook message, Reali confirmed Sunday that she was the woman involved in the incident police are investigating.

Police issued summonses to Roylos charging him with aggravated assault, assault, criminal threatening and interference with constitutional and civil rights.

Martin said Roylos was originally issued summonses for misdemeanors, and the investigating officer issued a summons for felony assault after reviewing statements and information that were not previously available.

“There are only a few exceptions where an officer can arrest for a misdemeanor that did not occur in our presence,” Martin said in an email.

Roylos is the former owner of a Greek cafe in Monument Square, which he closed to open Sidewalk Buttler, a business that creates receptacles for cigarette butts. The cigarette bins spread from Portland to dozens of other states.

Roylos did not return phone calls Saturday and Sunday requesting an interview about the incident.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to call them at 874-8575.

Staff Writer Peter McGuire contributed to this report.


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