A Portland cyclist was jailed earlier this month on suspicion of "hawking a lugie" on a firefighter, records show.

Branden Shelby

The cyclist, 42-year-old Branden Shelby, said he was "heated" because a rubber flexible side light on the firefighter's truck hit him in Portland, according to a probable cause affidavit. Shelby is facing a felony aggravated harassment charge, records show, and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

The firefighter, Gary Fergus, told a police officer on Oct. 15 that he was waiting for traffic at a stop when Shelby rode up next to him and spit in his face, according to the affidavit. Saliva hit his face and arm, the court record says.

Another firefighter said he was in the front seat when he heard someone "hawking a lugie" and saw spit hit Fergus, according to the affidavit. (Technically speaking, we recognize the proper phrasing as "hocking — or hawking — a loogie," depending on your preference in spelling.)

He was jailed Oct. 15 and released on his own recognizance the same day.

KGW-TV and KPTV previously reported about the incident.

— Jim Ryan